Discussion Forum Guidelines
Each class session includes an associated discussion forum featuring one or more topics. Weekly, students will engage with assigned readings or activities and respond to discussion questions. Students are expected to post at least once per week for most of the semester. However, additional contributions beyond the minimum requirement are encouraged.
The discussion forums help me assess how students are processing course content, developing an understanding of information organization, and independently exploring relevant tools and topics. Below are the guidelines for participation in the Discussion Forums. By following these guidelines, students can maximize their learning experience while contributing to a vibrant and engaging online classroom community.
Posting Guidelines
Content of Posts
Each post should address a single topic, question, or discussion point. Consider the topic in the context of the course materials, class discussions, other posts, and personal experiences.
- Posts may be original comments or thoughtful replies to others' posts. Replies are counted as posts if they contribute substantively to the discussion.
- Posts must be succinct but adequately express your thoughts. Avoid one- or two-sentence responses.
Quality Expectations
- Proofread posts for clarity, grammar, and accuracy before submitting. Moodle allows 30 minutes for edits after submission.
- Consider drafting your post in an external editor before pasting it into Moodle to ensure quality.
- If a post is insufficient, I will reach out privately. No feedback indicates your posts meet expectations.
Multiple Topics
- Address only one topic per post. If you wish to respond to multiple topics, create separate posts for each.
Reading and Responding
Engage with Classmates
Read a variety of posts to understand different perspectives. Although I don’t expect everyone to read every post, a broad sampling is encouraged.
Replying to Posts
Use the "Reply" button to respond so discussions remain organized within threads.
- Agreement is welcome but should include additional insights or reasoning.
- Disagreement is also encouraged but must be respectful and constructive.
Timeliness
Avoid last-minute contributions, as they reduce opportunities for meaningful interaction. Posts added late in the week may not receive the attention they deserve.
Logistics
Access and Deadlines
Forums will be available in Moodle under their respective unit folders. Topics will be introduced in class, and students will typically have one week to post. For example, if a unit begins on Thursday, responses are due by the following Wednesday at 11:59 PM. Late posts will not be counted toward the discussion grade unless otherwise specified in class.
Instructor Involvement
While forums are mostly unmoderated, I read all posts and may occasionally comment, especially to address factual errors or clarify confusion.
Grading
Participation Requirement
Students must contribute to at least 10 discussion forums over the semester. This allows for 3-4 skipped forums. Later forums often cover more advanced or interesting topics.
- Completing all 10 required posts earns a discussion grade of 100%.
- Missing posts will proportionally lower the discussion grade.
Extra Credit Opportunities
Additional posts may boost your discussion board grade (up to a maximum of 110%) and enhance your overall participation grade. However, extra posts carry fewer points than the required ones.
Impact on Final Grade
Active participation in forums is an easy way to positively influence your grade, while failing to participate is an equally easy way to lower it. |