Uses of Discussion Forums
 

1. To replicate in-class discussion when class time does not allow for it.

 
• SemPM — Given limited contact time in the classroom, professors/instructors may want to invite discussion outside of class through discussion forums. This maximizes the instructor's time for material that must be presented in class, while building on the cohort relationships.

 
• InMinistry — In the distance components, the discussion forums are a primary way for a professor/instructor to discern whether or not students are understanding the course content coming from reading, lectures and independent research.
2. To enhance in-class discussion inviting students to greater levels of application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

 
3. To increase collaboration and exchange of ideas between persons with different backgrounds.

 
• "Level the playing field" for those hesitant to participate in class.

 
• Share resources discovered through research and reflection.

 
4. To prepare for in class or further technologically mediated interaction.

 
• Sharing verbatims online prior to discussion with peers.

 
• Sharing research brief prior to presentation in class.

 
5. To promote a deeper sense of community between class participants (student & professor).

Considerations when using the discussion forum tools in Web Course in a Box

1. Be clear about the purpose of the discussion and articulate this clearly to students.

 
• Are students to put in their final thoughts?
• Are students allowed and encouraged to be "in process"?
• Are students invited to challenge and disagree?
• Are students invited to demonstrate compassion, empathy and reflective listening?

 
2. Participate in the forum and make your presence known (like being a player-coach).

 
3. Are students primarily responding to the professors questions or are students required, encouraged to participate with one another?

 
4. How long will the discussion be taking place?

 
• Ongoing discussions are helped with some requirement/encouragement about the pace at which students participate (e.g., once a week through quarter?)

 
• Limited discussions need one to two weeks for interaction to take place.

 
5. What level of confidentiality is needed for the forum?

 
• If very confidential, forums can be set up to "lock out" non-members of the group, in which case students will need to know their student ID and password.

 
• If somewhat confidential, forums can be limited to class members only, in which case students will to know their student ID and password.

 
• If not confidential, forums can be open to anyone and a student ID and password is unnecessary.

 
6. How is participation factored into the grading for the course?

 
• NOTE: Use of a  -,  ,  + system can help make evaluation more objective.

 
• check       = adequate contribution, demonstrates reasonable engagement of the material.
• check+     = superior contribution, demonstrates above average engagement of the material.
• check-      = inadequate contribution, demonstrates little or no engagement of the material.
 

1. Viewing Options

 
• By thread — shows the relationship between posts/interaction between students.
• By date — shows posts in date order.
• By author — shows posts grouped by students/authors.
• Archive — this will give you a snap-shot of all posts to date and allow you to read them offline or print them out.

 
2. Authoring Tools

 
• Discussion forums and/or individual posts may be removed from view or deleted.
• A report of participation by each student can be generated which shows who posted, whether they were primary or follow-up posts and the length of the posts.

Example Discussion Forums

To access Seminary Web Course in a Box courses go to http://www.bethel.edu/wcb; click on the Bethel Seminary <Course Directory> link; select course (note that courses from previous quarters can be accessed by clicking on the <previous quarters> link at the top of the page.); and, enter user id: <guest>; password: <visitor> to gain access to the class.  The discussion forum link is located in the "Learning Links" portion of the course.
 

The following classes took place during the Winter 2000 term:
 

• BT101MN - Jeannine Brown:  clear instructions and ongoing instructor participation; collaboration and sharing of ideas and resources by students.

• PC101CA - Keith Olson:  replicates a small group classroom experience moderated by the professor.

 
• TS101MN - LeRon Shults:  high- level thinking demonstrated by students.

 
• PC101MN - Nils Friberg:  use of forum as a spring board to further interaction on verbatims.

 
• PR101MN - Bill Hogan:  clear instructions and ongoing instructor participation.

A PRAYER FORUM has been created on the InMinistry web page to invite students to interact with each other about personal, ministry or other concerns. To access this forum, go to http://www.bethel.edu/seminary_academics/inmin/ and click on the <Prayer Forum> hotlink or go to the course, PM777 InMinistry Prayer forum listed in the Winter 2000 courses.
 

Experience Using Discussion Forums:  go to the course, PM777 InMinistry Prayer forum, listed in Winter 2000 courses, select the discussion forum <Using Discussion Forums>, and respond to the question as stated.  Begin to consider ways of using discussions to enhance your class participation.