Discussion Boards

Pros	Cons
Decreases learner isolation Provides a history of learners contribution Ease of retrieval and exchange of information Encourages collaborative learning Student – centered learning Empowers the learners Highly interactive discussions Higher quality (time to reflect) Encourages ALL students to respond Flexibility Peer tutoring Professional development opportunities Development of written skills	Increased complexity from F2F Fragment discussion within topic Technology not available to all Disadvantage for students with poor writing abilities Misunderstandings may occur due to lack of body language

How can discussion blogs enhance classroom interactions?

(1) Many times a teacher simply does not have time to discuss topics in depth and this is where a discussion board could be used. At the end of the day/week a teacher could post tangent topic(s) that time did not allow him/her to address. The students are then able to connect to their peers on a more personal level, talking about material that may be somehow related to the curriculum but not required. (2) A teacher may also encourage peer learning and tutoring by posting unanswered questions and requiring students to formulate possible answers. (3) Rather than having F2F debates a teacher may want to create a discussion board. This requires students to all participate while giving students time to reflect and research different views before formulating their own. (4) In group activities it can often be challenging to find a time convenient for all to meet. A discussion board would allow groups to collaborate without a F2F meeting thereby accomplishing what they need to together but when it is convenient for each individual. Pieces can be posted on the discussion board and glued together by an individual. (5) A discussion board could be used to explore other cultures. Individuals could post comments, pictures, stories, reports, recipes, and all sorts of cultural relevant information for all to explore. This could be used to create understanding and respect for others perspectives in the classroom. There are many ways that discussion boards enhance classroom learning.