Chirping Crickets
Making Online Discussions Work
So, you've crafted a discussion prompt as a way to engage students, but your students' responses look more like a collection of mini-essays than an actual conversation. They talk at each other, not with each other. Sound familiar? I've been there.
Recently, my "perfect" discussion board turned into 20 students essentially talking to themselves. Sure, they followed the directions – but meaningful dialogue? Not so much.
Here's what I learned: We wouldn't ask 20 students to have simultaneous individual conversations in a physical classroom, so why do we expect it to work online? This exercise could be better!
Below are three game-changing strategies that take just minutes to implement:
1. Think Small (Groups, That Is)
Break your class into groups of 4-5 students
Quick tip: Most LMS platforms have a "groups" feature – it's just a few clicks away
Result: Students actually talk to each other, because they aren’t choosing 2 peers at random to reply to.
2. Give Crystal-Clear Instructions And A Response Format. Instead of "Post your reply and respond to two peers," try:
"Find two quotes that challenge your assumptions and explain why"
"Connect one concept to your personal experience"
Pro tip: Use this response framework:
Compliment ("I appreciate how you...")
Comment ("I see this differently because...")
Connect ("This reminds me of...")
Question ("I wonder about...")
Clear instructions that start with action words, like "find", "explain", "describe", "identify", and "compare," lead to deeper, more focused conversations.
While I don't hold discussions at higher standards than face-to-face exchanges, I am strict about netiquette and mutual respect. In my class, the discussion boards are meant to be conversations, not formal papers, and my rubric for the discussions gives points for netiquette while aiming at quality exchange over quantity of posting.
3. Assign Discussion Roles
Designate a different student(s) each week as the "conversation starter/monitor." Assign students a discussion board monitor or participant role within the small group so at least one person is in charge of keeping the discussion going and ensuring everyone stays on track. You can switch this role around among the students throughout the semester.
Close with a brief summary of key insights - I try to get in the last word by summarizing and announcing noteworthy items within the thread
Before Your Next Class:
Pick ONE discussion board in your current course. Just one. Break students into small groups and introduce the response recipe above. That's it. Start small, measure the difference, and build from there. Remember: The goal isn't perfect academic prose – it's genuine dialogue. What simple change will you try first? Let me know if this works for you - no crickets allowed!!
Share this with your colleague whose empty discussion boards have become a modern art installation called "The Sound of Procrastination," and SUBSCRIBE for bite-sized strategies delivered straight to your inbox. We're in this semester together.
