Finalized: Click Reply: Overcoming Discussion Board Dread

Click Reply: Overcoming Discussion Board Dread

Molly Collins, English Instructor

Yikes!

John’s message had very little to do with the dinner plans--he expressed his thoughts on a topic and expected a response with:

● Reassurance that the class would get better and why that’s the case

● Agreement that these types of situations are tough to deal with

● Further discussion on a new plan to meet for a meal.

What he received from Alex was disinterest in what he shared about his current situation and only a simple confirmation that the message was received.

This same outcome is common of student discussion post threads.

​Student’s Post:

Technology has certainly impacted the cost of college. Technology use in classrooms is not new, but we now rely on it more to complete essential work and tasks. Most classes rely on technology for course management, like Blackboard, and many even use additional programs like MindTap and My Labs Plus. So students not only have to purchase and maintain devices like computers and tablets to complete their work, but they are also paying additional fees for access codes. It seems like this may also be impacting sharing and re-selling of textbooks, as it is easy to acquire a hard copy of a book to reuse, but I don’t think you can re-sell access codes.

Re: Student's Post: Good job. You made some great points.

​Before:

​Student’s Post:

Technology has certainly impacted the cost of college. Technology use in classrooms is not new, but we now rely on it more to complete essential work and tasks. Most classes rely on technology for course management, like Blackboard, and many even use additional programs like MindTap and My Labs Plus. So students not only have to purchase and maintain devices like computers and tablets to complete their work, but they are also paying additional fees for access codes. It seems like this may also be impacting sharing and re-selling of textbooks, as it is easy to acquire a hard copy of a book to reuse, but I don’t think you can re-sell access codes.

Re: Student's Post: I did not consider the point about access codes and how it might impact textbook selling/exchanges. It seems that these codes are a part of the move toward more affordable textbooks, though won’t there still be a need for buying/re-selling to continue, or is that a thing of the past?  

​After:

In Today's Skillshop:

1. Discuss the benefits of discussion boards

2. Practice strategies for replying to discussion posts--no matter the class or topic.

3. Explain what metacognition is and why it is important

Open Ended

What are the benefits of discussion boards in classes, whether they are in-person, online, or hybrid?

Strategies for Replying to Discussion Posts

● Explain how a peer’s post helps you better understand the material

● Point out areas of the post you don’t understand and ask questions to seek more information and/or suggest how the post could be more informative for an audience (group of peers)

● Disagree with a peer’s post and explain why your point of view differs.

● Explain how a peer’s post challenged your thinking on the topic.

Has Someone Already Replied? Keep the Conversation Going

● Agree or disagree (respectfully) with your peer’s thoughts on the original post and explain why

● Acknowledge your peer’s response to the original post. Then point out another part of the original post (different from your peer’s response) that you’d like to spend some time discussing.

Poll

Student Post:

I think we should revisit the common belief that working with a computer is faster than working with paper. Consider color-coding, bolding/italicizing, etc. I think that a student switching out colors of pens to emphasize different points in their notes and adding other formatting elements by drawing symbols is going to be just as quick as selecting text and clicking around to find different features in a document. They may even be less likely to get distracted during a lesson or lecture because there’s less to focus on.

• Explain how a peer’s post helps you better understand the material

• Point out areas of the post you don’t understand and ask questions to seek more information and/or suggest how the post could be more informative for an audience (group of peers)

• Disagree with a peer’s post and explain why your point of view differs.

• Explain how a peer’s post challenged your thinking on the topic.

Poll

Student Post: I think this topic comes up a lot in conversation when preparing to be successful as a student, but the reality is that in some classes we don’t have control over this. Some instructors don’t allow laptops or devices to be used in the classroom still because of the risk for distraction. I get that, but what if this is one of the reasons that some students don’t take notes at all? Should students have to adapt when they don’t or cannot learn a certain way?

Student Reply: To reply to your closing question, I do think students can adapt when an instructor’s policy may not align with their preferred way to take notes. That said, this doesn’t have to mean just dealing with it and struggling to write out notes on paper—this could just mean asking the instructor for advice on how to best take notes within the ramifications of their policy. Not having good strategies for notetaking may be the reason a student relies more on technology in the first place.

 

• Agree or disagree (respectfully) with your peer’s thoughts on the original post and explain why

• Acknowledge your peer’s response to the original post. Then point out another part of the original post (different from your peer’s response) that you’d like to spend some time discussing.

Open Ended

Student Post: Taking tests online is beneficial for students due to time management. There’s a timer built in, so there’s no staring at a clock, and typing or clicking responses is a lot faster than writing with a pencil. More teachers should convert their tests to an online format.

Open Ended

Student Post: I’ve never been in a class where I’ve had to take a test online. All of the courses I have taken have been face-to-face, and we took tests with pencil and paper. I’ve used scantrons before and written directly on tests, but I’ve never had to use my computer.

Student Reply: Your point helps me think about how switching to an online testing format could negatively impact students who aren’t used to the procedure. Technology can be daunting when a user is not familiar with the set up.

Open Ended

Student Post: Online testing should only be used for online courses. If a student is able to sit in class with a teacher, testing materials should be provided.

Open Ended

Student Post: There are too many distractions for students when they take a test online. Students will just look up the answers.

Student Reply: I disagree. While I’m sure some students will be tempted to look up answers, many would be honest and abide by the honor code of the school.

Metacognition

•Our ability to assess our own skills, knowledge, or learning

•Awareness of your own level of knowledge and thought processes

•Awareness of your actual level of understanding of a topic

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