Webinar | Cultivating Deep Learning Using Discussion Boards

A frequent sentiment that is often heard from instructors of online courses is a general sense of dissatisfaction with traditional discussion board activities. Many report how students are often reluctant to engage in meaningful discourse or how interactions tend toward superficiality and sound something like, “Hello, Rob. I agree with your point and couldn’t have said it better myself.” This often leaves instructors feeling frustrated and tempted to abandon traditional discussion boards as a learning tool altogether or in search of alternative means by which to engage learner collaboration.

Asynchronous discussion boards are a common tool used by instructors in online courses. These forums can provide an outlet to foster the interaction and collaboration that are sometimes lacking in an online learning environment. When students are engaged in conversations in these settings, the asynchronous nature of discussions can provide them with time to reflect on their responses before interacting with their peers in a way that is often not feasible in a face-to-face discussion. In this way, when it is used well, the discussion board can offer the ideal blend of reflection and collaboration that promotes the construction of knowledge in an online learning environment.