eToolbox: Mapping Technologies to Learning - Discussion fora for discussion

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What are discussion fora?

 

Discussion fora are online spaces which are created for users to post questions and responses to questions. They are considered a form on asynchronous communication, because contributors to the forum do not need to be online at the same time - much like e-mail and unlike synchronous communication methods such as phone calls and chat rooms which require contributors to be available at the same time.

 

Discussion fora are usually available as a feature of your virtual learning environment of choice, and are also available through public website such as Boards.ie. Fan and special interest sites such as LeinsterFans.com and Politics.ie use discussion fora to facilitate discussion, debate and exchange of views among parties who share a common interest.

 

A Discussion forum is usually created by the administrator of the site or the coordinator of a module. Several are typically created for separate topics. Within each forum users can typically create a thread, such that the forum is comprised of a group of threads. Each thread may, for example, poses a specific question to which people can reply and make contributions. As more and more people contribute to a thread the thread grows and the contributions can help bring the contributors to a consensus, or not!

 

For example, consider that a rugby fan site has created a few discussion fora:

 

[FORUM] European Cup

• [THREAD] Was the match on Saturday the best you've ever seen?
• [THREAD] Who would you pick for next week's match?
• [THREAD] How about that result in France? 

 

[FORUM] International

• [THREAD] Have we any hope in the Six-Nations?
• [THREAD] Who would get into your Lions team? 

 

The text in red represents the discussion fora. The text in blue represents the threads in the fora. Users can then post their replies to the question posed in the thread.

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What will I learn on this page?

 

This page provides guidance to practitioners who wish to learn how to use Discussion fora to facilitate and support learning through discussion, as per Diana Laurillard’s model. By following this page, reading its content, watching the videos and following the links provided you will be able to:

 

1. Describe and discuss why discussion fora are useful for supporting learning through discussion.
2. Design appropriate questions for discussion fora, to support student learning.
3. Design appropriate moderation and management for discussion fora, to support student learning.
4. Select an appropriate product to implement discussion fora on your course.
5. Provide us with details of your experience of using discussion fora on your course.

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Why should I consider discussion fora for discussion?

 

Activity 1: Watch the video below by Mark Fullmer. In this video, Fullmer makes the following points about the value of discussion as an approach to active learning. Discussion, he maintains, is an approach to active learning which:

 

• Leads to deep, higher order learning and retention.
• Creates feelings of community and comradeship among learners.
• Allows and facilitates ideas to be proposed, formulated, interpreted, evaluated and critiqued in order to build group knowledge.

 

He also introduces Web 2.0 tools such as discussion fora and Wikis, which can support learning through discussion in a digital environment.

 

 

Activity 2: Watch the first three minutes of the clip below from the University of New South Wales. This video provides motivating examples for the use of online discussion as part of the learning process. Some key points from this clip are:

 

• The virtual space can offer greater opportunities for participation.
• A lot of people can see the feedback that is going back to individual students.
• Everybody can participate in an active way, rather than passively listening.
• Peer-to-peer discussions can be conducted easily, allowing deep learning.

 

 

 

Activity 3: Read the paper Synchronous and Asynchronous E-Learning by Stefan Hrastinski. In this paper, the author makes the point that asynchronous communication and discussion is useful where students are required to reflect on complex issues. Unlike synchronous methods, students are provided with time for reflection.

Asynchronous communication and discussion is also, obviously, useful when synchronous discussion is not possible because of the life schedules of students, or indeed because of the geographical / time-zone locations of students.

 

Task: Having reviewed all the material above, post a message to our discussion forum in response to the following question:

 

• Where are you considering the use of discussion fora for learning by discussion, and why are you considering it?

 

Reply to two other postings in this forum.

 

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How can I use discussion fora for discussion?

 

Activity 1: Watch the remainder of the video from Activity 2 in the last section. This looks specifically at the ways students can be motivated to participate in online discussion. The key points from this clip are:

 

• Seeing that others have engaged, encourages others to engage.
• Responses to an individual’s posting encourages further posts.
• Collate and summarise students' contributions.

 

 

Activity 2: The quality of the questions you construct for online learners are essential for engaging students with learning. Chan (2001), as cited by Biggs (2003) recommends the following reflective questions, after a learner has been asked to review material online:

 

• Is there anything interesting or useful you have learned?
• What are some things that are difficult to understand?
• How did reading these notes help you think about X and Y?
• Have the comments on your ideas made you rethink the issue?

 

Read Judith Boettcher’s outline of discussion question types.

 

Activity 3: The facilitation of online discussion and the role of the instructor is essential to ensuring effective interaction and learning online. Read one of the following articles, relating to the role of the instructor:

 

Rovai, Alfred (2007). Facilitating Online Discussions Effectively. The Internet and Higher Education.

Mazzolini, M. and Maddison, S (2007). When to jump in: The role of the instructor in online discussion forums. Computers and Education.

 

Activity 4: Watch the following brief video which provides advice to students who post to online discussion fora. The key points from this video are:

 

• Ensure you understand exactly what your instructor expects.
• Posts should be thoughtful, on topic and relevant to the discussion.
• Create an effective subject line and a strong headline.
• Be respectful.

 

 

Task: Having reviewed all the material above, post a message to our discussion forum in response to the following questions:

 

• Is there anything interesting or useful you have learned from these papers and videos?
• What are some things that are difficult to understand?
• How did reading these papers and watching these videos help you think about the design of the online discussion for your course?
• Have the comments on your ideas made by other contributors made you rethink the issue?

 

Reply to two other postings in this forum.

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What products can I use for discussion fora for discussion?

 

Activity 1: ProBoards is one of the most widely used free forum sites. Watch the video below which provides you with details on how to set up a forum.

 

 

or

 

Activity 2: If your company / institution uses Blackboard, watch the video below which provides an overview of how to set up a discussion forum in that tool.

 

 

or

 

Activity 3: If your company / institution uses Moodle, watch the video below which provides an overview of how to set up a discussion forum in that tool.

 

 

or

 

Activity 4: If your company / institution another tool which supports discussion locate the documentation for that tool and review the information available.

 

Task: Having completed one of Activity 1, 2, 3 or 4 above, create a discussion forum for your course and begin the discussion. After one week of discussion on the forum, post a response to the following questions on our discussion forum:

 

• What has worked well in your discussion forum, and why?
• What has not worked well in your discussion forum, and why?
• What would you do differently for the next discussion forum you will set up, and why?

 

Reply to two other postings in this forum.

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Give me an example of using discussion fora for discussion.

 

Activity: Watch the following video from Leicha Bragg in Deakin University, Australia, which provides a demonstration of how discussion fora were used for Mathematics teacher training.

 

 

Task: Having reviewed the case study, post a message to our discussion forum in response to the following questions:

 

• Is there anything interesting or useful you have learned from this case study?
• What are some things that are difficult to understand?
• How did this case study help you think about the design of the online discussion for your course?
• Have the comments on your ideas made by other contributors made you rethink the issue?

 

Reply to two other postings in this forum.

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Tell us about your experience of using discussion fora for discussion.

 

Please use the comment box below to tell us about your experience of using Discussion Fora. If you have created a resource elsewhere, please provide a link.