Assignment #5: Discussion Boards

When used wisely discussion boards can be great tools for enhancing education. There are many ways discussion boards can be used in (and out) of the classroom lesson. However, there are also some cons related to discussion boards.

Pros:

• Helps create sense of community and cohesion for students in both online instruction and face to face classrooms

• Makes communication among group members easy

• Can be used to supplement class discussions

• Can be accessed anywhere, anytime

• Promotes student interaction

• Enhances face-to-face educational activities

• Allows for sharing information

• Encourages peer review and tutoring

• Allows time to think, reflect and write

Cons:

• Privacy issues, students need to understand the importance of privacy

• Some students may not have computers or internet access at home, making it difficult to participate in discussions

• Some students may not participate, maybe because of shyness or lack of confidence

• Discussions could get out of hand or off topic if the mediator is not monitoring closely

• Discussion may be lacking, students don’t know what to say

Five ways to enhance classroom interactions using discussion boards:

1. Discussion boards allow students to ask questions and receive help from their peers when they are struggling with a concept or studying for a test. This is helpful for the entire class because the student asking the question gets an answer, the student answering the question reinforces what they know by explaining it to others, and the rest of the class gets exposed to the information so it is also reinforced for them.
2. Students who are away can keep up on homework and classroom activities through discussion boards. Again, they can use this medium to receive further explanations from students who attended class.
3. Discussion boards give students time to think about a topic, and determine their response. This will result in deeper, more thought full discussions.
4. Some students dislike speaking in class. Discussion boards allow these students to express themselves and their opinions, which may otherwise never be heard by the rest of the class.
5. The use of discussion boards can create a sense of community in the classroom. They allow students to participate and interact with one another more than in the classroom. So the classroom becomes a learning community instead of a group of students being instructed by a teacher.