Teaching Tips Using the discussion tool in WebCT

Using the discussion tool in WebCT

The Discussions tool provides an area where interactions between students in your WebCT unit can occur.

The discussion tool can be used in several ways:

1. as a notice board for messages from the Unit Coordinator especially answers to frequently asked questions

   - create a separate topic "Messages from coordinator"
   - lock it to ensure the messages remain visible to students

2. as a site for student groups to interact among themselves

   - create private topics where students can be allocated as members

3. as a site where students can discuss questions/issues as they would in a face to face class

   - Some of the benefits for students of participating in an online discussion are:
   - time to reflect on other students’ postings and to consider their own replies;
   - involved in a collaborative learning environment;
   - more flexible than face to face situation;
   - decreases isolation for off-campus students;
   - better insights and understanding of content are provided than in face to face situations; and
   - shy students or those from non-English speaking backgrounds are more likely to participate than in a classroom

Posting a welcome message

The coordinator should post an initial welcome message where “netiquette” – what is appropriate to say publicly online - is explained.

Some common guidelines are:

- be polite
- do not use CAPITALS – considered as shouting
- all messages are visible to all members
- write carefully to minimise misunderstanding

Links to the following sites could be provided:

The Core Rules of Netiquette - http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
Netiquette Guidelines - http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/infoskills/tutorials.html

The welcome message could also detail what students can expect in terms of moderation of the discussion board or response time from the coordinator.

Creating effective messages:

- Keep the title short and to the point
- Keep the message short < 200 words
- Address 1 topic only in a message
- Keep questions and comments brief and relevant

If a student posts an inappropriate or offensive posting:

- Remove the offensive message
- Contact the offender privately
- Refer the offender to netiquette guidelines

If the student persists in posting inappropriate messages their access to the Discussions tool in WebCT can be denied.