| Discussion
Board |
The Discussion
Board is an opportunity to carry on a conversation with the entire
class, much as you would do in a face-to-face class.
While in a classroom, the conversation is synchronous, online it is asynchronous.
It can be carried on over a period of time rather than within the confines
of a classroom. Keep in mind that, just as in a face-to-face classroom,
everyone can "hear" your comments since your postings are generally
to the entire class. You have the opportunity to think out your answers
to
the posted questions before you place them online for your class to read.
You are expected to respond to the posts of your classmates in a thoughtful
manner, adding to the learning of both you and your classmates.
The following
parts of this web page will explain the mechanics of posting and responding
to
your
classmates. |
|
The Discussion Board can be accessed by clicking on the Communication
button. |
|
This will bring up a choice of sites. Click on the Discussion
Board. |
|
The topics of the Discussion Board are underlined, with the question
or topic written below. To access the question, click on the underlined
topic. In the example to the left, you would click on WebQuests or Gretskey
Effect to access the question. |
|
The answers that have already been posted by your classmates are listed
on the page. If there is a + in front of the message, you can click on
that + to show the messages below. The + will turn to a - and show a list
of responses. To read a response, click on the underlined title of the
message, not the name of the person posting the message. |
|
If you wish to reply to the message your classmate has posted, click
the Reply button in the lower right corner of their response. This will
bring up a form to use to reply. This form will be explained a little further
down the page. |
|
To post your answer to the question posed, click on the Add New Thread
button at the top of the page after you click on the underlined question.
Whether you are posting your original answer to the question, or responding
to a post of a classmate, the form you see will be identical. |
|
The page has
the appearance of an email, without the To: line. Remember, the post will
go to the whole class. In the subject line put the name of the question
or the topic you are addressing. In the Message area, place the comments
you wish to make.
If you wish to attach a Word
document, you can do so by using the Browse button to find the document
on your hard drive. Once located, click the Open button on that menu.
You really are not going to Open it, but rather select it for attachment.
Open is a misnomer, but that is how Windows elects to display the option.
Once you click Open, it will attach to your posting.
Depending on the course, the
Post message as Anonymous may be disabled. |
 |
Once you are satisfied with your answer, you can Preview it before you
post, or simply click Submit to post it to the Discussion Board. These
options are at the lower right of the form. |
| Don't panic if you don't immediately see your posting on
the list. Until you either exit the page and return, or refresh the page,
it will not be visible to you. |
| Return
to Home Page |
