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.
Remember, when you see the “To prepare” section, use it to connect your reading and to guide your thinking about the assignment that appears after “Post by Day 4.”
To prepare for this Discussion:
•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?