Communicate clear RULES.
1. Be specific.
Be specific and clear about expectations. Is it required? How many words? How many times to post? When is it due? How many points is it worth? How will it be graded? When will it be graded? When will the next discussion open?
2. Structured format works better.
Studies have shown that student participation and engagement increase in a structured online discussion environment.
However, be consistent in scheduling deadlines. For example, "DEADLINES: The initial response must be posted by Thursday; and reaction to at least 2 classmates' posts must be completed by Monday." Being consistent from week to week will also reduce confusion and frustrations.
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3. Explain netiquette.
Don’t assume that students automatically know how to communicate appropriately in an online environment. While they may be accustomed to participating in social forums, the guidelines for an educational setting can be quite different. Establish guidelines for the level of formality you require. If one of your goals is to encourage good writing skills, it is important for students to follow acceptable writing conventions in regards to spelling, grammar & punctuation. (University of Oregon)
Set ground rules early, on how to use appropriate language and observing other etiquette. There are many resources on netiquette, and ITSO's netiquette can be found here. Northern Arizona University's page is another good example.
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Please feel free to use this video.
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Resources