Discussions
Overview
In this session, we will focus on building a community through discussion. What are some strategies and best practices when developing your discussion? If you are developing an online discussion, what are the major elements you should consider? This session will discuss implementation strategies and best practices for successfully engaging the learners in your class, both in-person and online.
To enhance this discussion, we will leverage SUNY's OSCQR Rubric, more specifically the "Interaction" section, supplying us with a framework on why meeting these standards is important, as well as how to approach meeting those standards.
For those unable to attend the live session, we have pre-recorded a "mini-lecture" describing the main topics, themes and strategies. You can find the recording under the "Pre-Recorded Review" heading.
Register for additional sessions (select all or some)
Video Recording
Live sessions are not recorded but please feel free to watch and engage with the material, by watching this 10-15 min. recorded session.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can we continue the discussion from the in-class sessions into the online space?
Great question! Continuing a discussion from your in-person class session can be done through the use of the discussion board and/or VoiceThread tools in Blackboard. One strategy would be to either ask clarifying questions and/or address confusing topics, that hadn’t been resolved during class. Another strategy would be to ask students to post reflections about the readings, prior to the in-class session, and discuss some of the major themes mentioned.
I’m interested in including non-text based discussions in my online class. Can this be done?
Yes! We encourage the use of non-text-based discussions when applicable. Blackboard has access to a tool called VoiceThread which allows for the use of audio and video-based discussions and responses. If this is of interest, we encourage you to speak with both the Office of Online Education for strategies on incorporating into your class, and the Information Technology department on adding to your Blackboard shell.
Examples of open-ended questions.
Example 1: Compare this topic to current events. How is it the same/different? Provide specific examples and cite your sources.
Example 2: Provide a reflection on what you felt like were the 3 main take-aways from this week’s reading. Provide a brief explanation for each take-away.
Additional Samples/Examples
- Samples for Discussion (Board) Based Teaching and Learning. Central Michigan University Curriculum and Instructional Support. Retrieved [Oct. 10, 2023].
- Writing a successful discussion board post. University of Nevada, Reno University Writing & Speaking Center. Retrieved [Oct. 10, 2023].
Resources
Pedagogical Approaches, Strategies, and Examples
This list of resources is to help guide you through some of that thinking and possibly spark some new ways of engaging with your students, regardless of modality.
- Alexis Wiggins. (2017). The Best Class You Never Taught : How Spider Web Discussion Can Turn Students Into Learning Leaders. ASCD.
- Discussion-Based Teaching & Learning: Teaching Guide. Boston University Center for Teaching and Learning. Retrieved [Oct.10, 2023].
- Prud'homme-Généreux, A. (2021). 21 Ways to Structure an Online Discussion, Part 1. Faculty Focus.
- Discussions in Online Courses: Best Practices and Expectations. Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, Engineering for Professionals Resources. Retrieved [Oct. 10, 2023].
- Johns Hopkins, Engineering for Professionals. Discussions in Online Courses: Best Practices and Expectations
- Rubman, J. (2022). 4 Tips to Design an Engaging Discussion in Canvas. MIT, STS Teaching & Learning Technologies. (Note: please disregard the references to Canvas and think about how each tip might apply to the discussions with Blackboard and in-person).
- Group Work. Yale University Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. Retrieved [Oct. 12, 2023].
Blackboard "How-To" Guides
Leveraging the tools available to you is a great way of starting to foster community/discussion. This list of instructional guides from Blackboard Support, is our way of centralizing some of the Blackboard guides, related to discussions.