Discussion Forums and First Year Courses

While many instructors may use Blackboard or Moodle discussion boards for upper-level classes, these online forums are also a valuable resource for first year and introductory classes. These courses are opportune places to teach students that online communication is more than e-mail and instant messaging. Forums can facilitate the transition from informal to academic online writing while fostering conversation with the instructor and fellow classmates. Posts by students provide additional and alternative grading opportunities to the instructor while generating topics for further discussion in the classroom. This session will explore the benefits of using discussion boards and will demonstrate some of the diverse ways in which faculty members may use this tool in their courses. Related Links: Sample Discussion Board Rubric Creating Discussion Forums in Blackboar