The Discussion Board is a vital part of communication in online learning. If all participants agree to follow a few principles of civility and professionalism, the discussion board can be a great opportunity to express opinions, share ideas, and receive feedback from peers who are engaged in the same learning objectives.

Discussion Board Topic Links

Your First Posting

• As you prepare your initial posting, please refer to the rubric in your course for the expectations for depth and breadth of discussion.
  
  
• Brevity is appreciated. Since reading other's comments or articles can be very time consuming, try to be straight to the point, although respect that this is an academic class. Too little is just as troublesome as too much!

Delete the Extra

When writing a reply posting, delete all extraneous information except the specific phrase, sentence, or comment to which you are replying. This not only helps the reader know what you are replying to, but also helps him or her save time by not wading through a long post, or worse, the entire included thread. It also makes it quicker for classmates to download or print a particular posting.

Summarize, Quote, or Refer

Another way to help readers engage in your responses is to give a frame of reference in your post by quoting or summarizing the content to which you are responding. For example, “When Nick wrote he always formatted his posts the same way I began to think . . .” is much easier for the reader to follow and understand than “Yep, me too, that’s why I . . .” To look at it a different way, some participants choose to arrange their discussion board by unread posts only—the quote gives them their frame of reference for the topic of the thread.

Me, Too, I Agree!

The me-too post certainly is a frustration in the online environment and does not add any depth to the discussion or learning. In a study by Stodel, Thompson, and MacDonald (2006), “Learners got frustrated with the constant agreements and comments such as ‘Good point’ and ‘I agree’; feeling it made the conversation overly positive and fake.” Therefore be sure to post substantive ideas and avoid the "I agree" posts which just clutter up a discussion board.

Change the Subject Line to Reflect the Content of your Post

Think of the subject line of your posting like the title of a good book, one which will draw other readers in. Subject lines that resemble addresses (e.g., Lisa to Kay) tend to close down discussions to just the two names listed. Subject lines that just repeat the original poster’s subject line with the Re: added (Re: Re: Re: Unoriginal subject line) give no indication to the reader if the new or added content will benefit him or her as a learner, whether the conversation has evolved in topic or perhaps if it is veering off into a personal side conversation (which should then be moved to the student lounge or email). Each time you post or reply to a post, update the subject line to match the content of your posting.

Tone and Courtesy in Writing

The "tone" is a very important part of electronic communication. When you read your message out loud, does it sound the way you would speak to another student in the classroom?

• Humor can be difficult to convey in text, so make sure everyone realizes when you are trying to be funny. It is easy for messages to be misinterpreted since there are no physical gestures or voice inflections that accompany the text.
  
  
• Think through and re-read your comments before you post them.
  
  
• Be nice. Refrain from inappropriate language and derogatory or personal attacks.
  
  
• Make a personal commitment to learning about, understanding, and supporting your peers.
  
  
• Assume the best of others in the class and expect the best from them.
  
  
• Disagree with ideas, but avoid challenges that may be interpreted as a personal attack.
  
  
• Be open to be challenged or confronted on your ideas or prejudices.
  
  
• Challenge others with the intent of facilitating growth. Do not demean, harass or embarrass others.
  
  
• Encourage others to develop and share their ideas.

Check Previous Postings Before You Post

Remember to read what has previously been posted by others to avoid repeating comments.

• Make sure you are posting under the appropriate heading or thread.
  
  
• Stick to the topic; if you wish to pursue an unrelated idea with a classmate, move your communication to e-mail so that others don't spend time on non-essential topics.

Give Credit Where Credit is Due

Cite your references.

• Academic Dishonesty Defined

Grammar, Spelling and Fonts

The Discussion Board is part of a college course, so your writing style should conform to the rules of standard English. Here are some guidelines for all messages posted to the course's Discussion Board and course-associated emails:

• Avoid slang (e.g., "Wassup?", "Yo," and so forth).
  
• Don't curse.
• Use standard spelling:
  • you (not u)
  • are (not r)
  • to or too (not 2)
  • you're (not ure)
  • right (not rite)
  • I (not i)
• Use the spell check! Mistakes in spelling and grammar reflect poorly on you, and they're not acceptable.
• Stick to standard fonts -- Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica, 12 or 14 pt. -- and colors -- black or blue.
• DON'T WRITE THE ENTIRE POSTING WITH YOUR CAPS LOCK ON. IT'S REALLY ANNOYING.

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Adapted and used with permission of:
Lehmann, Kay and Lisa Chamberlin (2009).Making the Move to eLearning: Putting Your Course Online, pp. 141-145. Rowman & Littlefield Education Publishers. (Available in hard back, soft cover, and Kindle)

Other Sources

• Small Urban & Rural Transit Center
• University of Oklahoma, Mythology and Folklore course
• Oregon State University Extended Campus
• A Website for Beginning Online Learners - eModerators
• Hunter College

University of Wisconsin - Stout — Schedule of Online Courses, Online Certificate Programs, and Graduate Degree
© Copyright 2010 Kay Lehmann and Lisa Chamberlin   All Rights Reserved
Updated:  Thursday, September 12, 2019