Discussion again?  Yeahhhh because discussion is what adds a human element to our online courses and makes them real.  Without communication, why would students even need us?  They could just complete a bunch of self-taught modules and click send to submit their own grades to the registrar.  We teach to communicate knowledge to students and to allow students to communicate their own learning and knowledge to us and to other students.   Having said that, it is important to assure that…

There are many approaches to developing inclusive discussion which motivates students to participate and share learning, but the one I have found to work best I learned from the University of Phoenix. It is called ABC Facilitation.

A = Acknowledge

B = Build

C = Conclude

So, what does this mean and how does it work?

“A“ means to acknowledge what the students has posted. In my discussions, I post a starter to the discussion to which students must respond by…

Our online students are in a very different situation from those in the traditional classroom.  In the traditional class room discussion the students sit in a chair and see and hear the facilitator.  In the online class room the student sits in a chair and sees a computer screen.  The online student often wonders if anyone is even reading what he or she posts and not feeling included can take away motivation to participate.

One thing I have learned in my 20 or so years of…