Writing a Discussion Question
- Determine the Objective. Before developing a discussion question, first determine what you want students to achieve.
- Determine the Type of Question.
- Engage the Students.
- Assess the Question.
- Be Involved.
What questions should I ask in a discussion board?
Probing rationale, reasons, and evidence—questions that get students to think about the support for their arguments, for example, Why is that happening? How do you know this? Can you give me an example? What do you think causes …?
How does a discussion board help students?
Discussion boards help to create a social presence in an online course along with a sense of community. Presence and community, in turn, can foster emotional connections. They also improve student learning and can create greater feelings of satisfaction with the course.
How do you write a good discussion?
Do
- Respect the contribution of other speakers.
- Listen well to the ideas of other speakers; you will learn something.
- Acknowledge what you find interesting.
- Remember that a discussion is not a fight.
- Respect differing views.
- Think about your contribution before you speak.
- Try to stick to the discussion topic.
How do you respond to an online discussion?
Validate the post by sharing your experience and stating how it relates to the course material or to the initial post. Agree or disagree with the post and explain why you agree or disagree. Expand on your classmate’s post to demonstrate that you understand the topic.
What is the purpose of a discussion board?
A discussion board is a “space” where students can further delve into classroom content. It can promote collaboration, and offer individuals room to explore topics, issues, and/or questions.
Can a student post on an online discussion board?
Students attending classes virtually may be concerned about missing out on the interactions found in a traditional classroom setting. However, these students still benefit from class discussions through online discussion boards, which allow them to create original posts about a course topic and respond to the posts of other students.
How do you reply to a question on a discussion board?
Click on the “Reply” button in the lower right hand corner and type or paste in your reply. Click “submit” and you are done! The Discussion Board is not an informal chat room. Your answers and replies should be thoughtful, considerate, and use college-level language and grammar.
What makes a great question for a discussion?
A discussion question that is truly great is challenging and inspires students to think critically and respond with well thought out answers. These questions are a framework for creating prompts that encourage inquiry, challenge students to think bigger and connect the classroom to real world ideas and events.
