Discussion Patterns for Interactive Online Learning

Adaptable for WebCT Bulletin Board Discussions

Three- or Four- message Interchange

To personalize the exchange and provide an indication of an authentic audience, consider framing these messages as letters addressed "Dear Classmates" to the group and "Dear Pat" to individual classmates. Time frame for these exchanges should be at least one week.

    1. First message: Learner gives interpretation or explanation or reflection with support (benefits: thinking about the issue, articulating that thinking, developing support for a position, writing for a specific audience, and reading or research).
    2. Second message: Other Learners reply to one person with supported elaboration and/or alternative view (benefits: reading more about the issue, reflecting on it in terms of another perspective, developing support for a position, connection with a peer novice scholar, articulating that thinking, and writing for a specific audience). To ensure that everybody receives a reply, direct students to respond to a message that has not already received a reply.
    3. Third message: Original Learner replies to same person with "thanks" or explanation of how the 2nd message was helpful in increasing understand of the topic (benefits: review, affirmation of scholarly community, articulating their understanding, and writing for a specific audience).
    4. Fourth message: summary of the messages from all group members to include key similarities and differences in the group’s understanding (benefits: analysis of responses and issues, organizing information, review, affirmation of scholarly community, articulating their understanding, and writing for a specific audience).
    5. Instructor Feedback: Instructor should give ongoing feedback during these discussions offering praise and asking further probing questions where appropriate of the students.

Other Approaches

    1. Let students establish their own topics and select their groups with a framework you provide. For example, the first five people to participate identify the topics. The next people to participate select a topic group to join but always must keep the number of people in the groups even (you can’t be the 4th person to join a group if any other group still has only 2 people in it).
    2. Establish a detailed reply paradigm for responding to topics:
    1. First respondent writes a statement asserting a position or perspective about the topic.
    2. Second respondent adds evidence/examples/details to support the position.
    3. Third respondent offers an alternative view.
    4. Fourth respondent adds evidence/examples/details to support the alternative view.
    5. Fifth respondent adds documented research to further support the original position.
    6. Sixth respondent adds documented research to further support the alternative view.
    7. Seventh respondent summarizes the two positions and provides a concluding statement.

3. Send students to the other groups: After contributing one or more messages to their own group, they read and respond to the writings of another group on another topic.