Discussion Boards

Regular and Substantive InteractionDiscussion Boards

6 min read

Overview

Discussion boards are a potential example of RSI. Instructors should use a combination of methods most appropriate to the discipline and course. Explore this page to understand how to best create discussion boards that target student engagement and accreditation/evaluation requirements.

Not All Discussion Boards Are RSI

Not RSI:

Discussion boards that are underutilized or used solely for peripheral, non-academic purposes fall into this category. If the board becomes a place for only administrative announcements or minimal interaction that doesn't relate to the course content, it's not facilitating RSI.

Gray Area:

When discussion boards feature academically relevant prompts and students engage with the content, yet the instructor's involvement is minimal or non-directive, it's in the gray area. The potential for substantive interaction exists, but the lack of direct, meaningful engagement from the instructor with the students' contributions limits its effectiveness.

RSI:

Discussion boards that are actively managed by instructors, where prompts are not only academically relevant but also provoke critical thinking and interaction, firmly fall into this category. The instructor's consistent involvement/feedback (whether posted to the discussion board itself or privately via individual comments to students) ensures that the boards are a venue for meaningful learning and engagement.

Self Check

Start with the best example, then click on the other answers for additional guidance!

A discussion board where students are only required to post introductions or logistical questions about the course, without any further academic engagement or instructor feedback.: NOT RSI. If the board becomes a place for only administrative announcements or minimal interaction that doesn't relate to the course content, it's not facilitating RSI.
An instructor posts a few challenging questions related to the week's readings and asks students to respond to whichever question interests them most, with written, audio or video comments. The instructor actively participates and poses follow-up questions, highlighting insightful student contributions, connecting different students' posts, and providing additional resources.: Definitely RSI Example: This fosters a rich, interactive learning environment that extends beyond simple question-and-answer.
The instructor posts a weekly discussion prompt related to course readings but only occasionally replies to students or provides feedback.: Gray Area: When discussion boards feature academically relevant prompts and students engage with the content, yet the instructor's involvement is minimal or non-directive, it's in the gray area. The potential for substantive interaction exists, but the lack of direct, meaningful engagement from the instructor with the students' contributions limits its effectiveness.

Can Accreditors and Evaluators Access Discussion Boards?

Start with your best guess, then click on the other answers for additional guidance!

No: If they are created in Canvas, discussion boards are visible! The potential exception would be those created outside of Canvas or that include significant amounts of third-party publisher content where the content's relevance to the discussion might not be visible or assessable within Canvas alone.
Gray Area (Conditional Visibility): If they are created in Canvas, discussion boards are visible. The potential exception would be those created that include significant amounts of third-party publisher content where the content's relevance to the discussion might not be visible or assessable within Canvas alone.
Yes: Discussion boards that are created in Canvas are directly accessible to evaluators/accreditors.

(The potential exception would be those created outside of Canvas or that include significant amounts of third-party publisher content where the content's relevance to the discussion might not be visible or assessable within Canvas alone.)

Key Takeaways and a Reminder

Structure: By structuring discussion boards in a way that promotes active and meaningful participation from both students and instructors, you can leverage this tool to meet and exceed RSI standards.
Integration: Keep all academic discussions within Canvas or ensure that any external discussions are adequately documented and integrated into the course's Canvas site.

Merged Sections Reminder

Keep in mind that if your course contains merged sections, you must use groups separated by section Links to an external site. for discussion boards due to FERPA restrictions (students should only be able to interact with students in their section).

Further Examples

Weak example:

The instructor directs students: "Read Chapter 5 on Marketing Strategies and post your thoughts. Everyone needs to comment on at least one other classmate’s post."

The instructor does not respond to any of these thoughts.

Why It's Weak: This prompt is vague, lacking direction, and does not encourage deep engagement with the material or among students. Further, if the instructor does not respond at all, it would not be considered RSI.

Stronger example:

Topic: Analyzing Marketing Strategies Through Real-World Examples

Objective: To explore the implementation and outcomes of marketing strategies by companies, using insights from Chapter 5 on Marketing Strategies.

Initial Post Instructions

Choose a Company: Select a company you find interesting, focusing on how it has either flourished due to a great marketing strategy or struggled/failed due to a flawed approach.

Overview:

Company & Strategy: Provide a concise description of the company and detail the specific marketing strategy it executed. Identify the nature of the strategy, such as a digital campaign, branding effort, or product introduction.

Analysis:

Success Factors: If the strategy was successful, discuss what contributed to its success. How did it connect with the target audience? What innovative or effective elements did it incorporate? Draw on Chapter 5 concepts to support your analysis.
Failure Points: If the strategy was unsuccessful, explain the reasons behind its failure. Consider aspects like audience misalignment or ineffective message delivery. Use Chapter 5 concepts to strengthen your analysis.

Submission Formats: Feel free to submit your analysis as written text, a short video, or an audio recording. Choose the format that best allows you to express your insights and analysis.

Reply Post Instructions

Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer at least two thoughtful reflections on your classmates' analysis.

Do you agree with their evaluation? Provide reasons for your stance.

You may want to introduce additional examples or evidence that supports or challenges the presented analysis. You may also draw parallels with similar strategies from different companies.

Why It's Strong: This prompt requires students to apply what they've learned in a real-world context, encouraging analysis and engagement. If the instructor actively engages with the discussion and/or provides meaningful, constructive feedback, this would nail RSI requirements.

How to Use Discussion Boards

Canvas Guide to Discussion Boards Links to an external site.

Video Guide to Discussion Boards (five minutes):