The Higher Ed Ally

How Often Should I Post in Discussion Forums?

I have taught asynchronously for almost 20 years. Therefore, it shocks me that this is something that comes as news to anyone who agrees to teach an asynchronous course.  I agreed to teach my first online course, in 2006. My department chair made it clear that interacting with students on a regular basis was a requirement . There were no definitions about what “regular” or “interacting” meant. However, I understood that I needed to be “in “in” my virtual classroom a minimum of 4-5 days a week.  .

Why Discussion Forums Matters?

Quite a bit of our interaction with students in an asynchronous class comes in the form of discussion forums.  We get a feel for how well students are learning the course materials. Additionally, we also learn their “voice” as human beings.  In certain cases, we can learn their concerns about the course, the university, their experience in higher education, and even their fears of the future.  True interaction with our students should teach us these things. 

Remember They are Humans, Too

Our students, just like us are not robots on the other side of the internet.  Treating them as such is a guaranteed way to leave them with a bad experience.  So, how do we ensure that our discussion forum interactions with students are meaningful and demonstrate our interest in them and their success?  Below I offer some strategies from my own experience in online education and asynchronous discussion forums.

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1. Get Creative with Intros.: In the week one discussion forums go beyond a simple introduction.  Add a twist. For example, I ask my students to tell the class three things about themselves that make them unique.  I’ve gotten all kinds of answers.  My students are parents, deployed, active-duty military, and CEOs planning their next steps.  These individual characteristics help me envision my students beyond the computer screen. 
2. Ask students to include an image: Without a reference point, visualizing our students as people takes effort. Instead, ask the entire class to include an image. It can be a selfie, photo of them with loved ones, or even a simple avatar. As a result, you will have more context for interacting with them .
3. Respond to your students often: Equally important, try to respond to every student in the discussion forums as often as possible.  This can feel impossible in a course with more than 30-35 students.  For a larger course, it is even more challenging.  Try using group replies.  If three students all post similar replies to the original prompt, make your response a group reply. In the Subject Line, add all of their names, so that they all know the reply is for them.   Keeping contact with your students lets them know you are engaged and care about their success.
4. Use Multimedia in Discussion Forums:   With a course that you’ve taught multiple times, you know the areas in which students struggle. Instead of repeating yourself every term, record clarification videos.  Make them less than five minutes to help students understand these concepts better with minimal remediation. Post them during the appropriate forum.
5. Share Your Experience and Expertise: If you are teaching a course at the post-secondary level, then you have already earned at least one degree, so you know some of what your students face every day.  Be willing to share that with them in the discussion forums.  Let them know how you dealt with a similar situation or what you learned from it.  Once again, you are showing your students that you see them as more than a name on the roster.  You also demonstrate that you want to see them succeed.