The Nature of Online Discussion
In your first-term course, you have already participated in at least one graded online discussion. How was that experience? Finding the right tone, style, and content for a university level, sometimes called an academic voice, takes time. Plus, an online discussion may seem as if it is not quite a face-to-face discussion but not exactly an essay—and therefore more challenging. To offer guidance, this Discussion provides a model for an engaging academic discussion online.
Review the "Sample Online Discussions" document provided in the Resources.
• Compare the sample discussions. What are the good and bad characteristics of each sample?
• Review the “Tips for a Quality Online Discussion” document provided in the Resources.
• Which best practices do you see in the sample discussions?