These tips can help instructors ensure that online discussions are engaging and beneficial.
Convey Clear Expectations. Make sure to provide clear expectations regarding the number of posts, the number of replies, and the associated deadlines. For example, require two answers to the initial questions and two additional replies to classmates by the end of each week. Remember that you'll need to read everything your students write!
Adjust to the Discussion Board. The first discussion assignment should be low-stakes. Students must introduce themselves and are encouraged (but not required) to post a few photos. Students are then asked to read and reply to two or three of their classmates' introductions. This enables them to get to know each other and to get accustomed to the discussion board.
Clarify Your Role. It is important to share with your students how you envision your role in online discussions, which depends upon your pedagogical beliefs and teaching style. Keep in mind that your own contributions will set the tone for the discussion. Do not hold your online discussions to higher standards than your face-to-face exchanges.
Provide Feedback and Coaching. As you begin reading students' posts, prompt them to provide the page number, quote, or the title of the article to which they are reacting (e.g., "Good point, Samantha—what's the page number for this quote?"). Ask for clarifications if a post appears vague.
Track Participation. Track your own participation and that of your students, checking that the required initial answers are posted by the first deadline.
Offer Alternatives. If you have more than fifteen students, consider creating discussion groups or increasing the number of questions students may choose from. It will be easier for your students to stay on top of the discussion as they won't feel that they have to read every post.
Consider offering live discussions. Students often take online courses because their schedule or personal life does not allow them to go to class twice a week. It does not mean that they can't attend live sessions.
Create Questions You Care About. Provide five or six open-ended questions so that students can choose the ones they want to respond to, and include a general question that prompts students to react to an aspect of the readings that caught their attention
Select Discussion Leaders. Discussion leaders are responsible for adding a discussion question and moderating the answers. Discussion leaders select three of their classmates' quotes and write a one-paragraph reflection on each, which has proven to be of greater value to all in support of the learning process.
Encourage Note-Taking. Encourage students to take notes on weekly discussions. Courses ultimately close, and sooner or later students will lose access. Discussion posts don't export very well and are difficult to search.
Adapted from 10 Tips for Effective Online Discussions (Educause)
Additional Resources:
Discussions (Vanderbilt University)
Best Practices for Online Discussions (Emmanuel College)
Discussion Boards: Valuable? Overused? Discuss. (Inside Higher Ed)
How to Create Engaging Discussion Forums (eLearning Industry)