Online discussion

ONLINE DISCUSSION

An online discussion forum is a web-based communication tool (or activity) that enables participants to post messages and to reply to others' messages asynchronously. Unlike the real-time (synchronous) discussions of chat rooms and instant messaging the online discussion typically lasts longer and gives students time to think about what they are going to contribute. This activity is available in iLearn.

Online discussion forums provide an ideal activity for the facilitation of three types of interactions:

1. learner-learner
2. learner-teacher
3. learner-content

You can use the online discussion forum to post important messages to the entire class, generate class discussions, facilitate peer review and evaluate students based on their responses to open-ended questions.

You can conduct online discussions with your students in iLearn.

Advantages and Disadvantages of online discussion

The online discussion forum is a widely-used technological tool (or activity) in the contemporary higher education space. According to Berge & Muilenberg, (p. xx, 2000), 'one of the more important goals of education ... is thinking - to use the mind to arrive at a conclusion, make a decision, draw inferences, to reflect, to reason, to solve problems.' Despite their wide acceptance in tertiary education and perceived benefits, it is important to be mindful of both the advantages and disadvantages of using online discussions.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Students can participate at a time and place that suits them.	Those with poor writing skills are disadvantaged.
The act of typing forces students to take time and contribute more developed ideas.	Lack of facial cues can lead to misunderstanding.
Can reduce the amount of time the teacher has to give to telephone and face-to-face meetings and time in the office.	Discussions can go off topic.
Shy students get more of a chance to have a say.	Some students tend to too readily agree with others or paraphrase others' contributions.
Encourages reflection and deeper thinking.	Students can tend to respond to topics in an overall fashion rather than in detailed specifics.
Foreign students have more time to compose their thoughts.	Students lose motivation to participate unless they