Discussion Boards Best Practices

Discussion boards can often feel confusing and overwhelming for students in online classes, so it is important to make them clear and relevant so that they are meaningful experience for your students. Below are some ideas to consider when setting up your discussion boards in Canvas.

Provide Technical Support

Some students might be using a discussion board for the first time. Early on in the course, you might consider providing directions and technical support for students who may be posting for the first time.

Link to Canvas Guides student directions

Provide Assignment Guidelines

Frequency: How many times is the student required to post? Initial post only? Do they need to respond to one or two classmates? If you are requiring responses, be clear as to how many.

Grading: How will students be graded? How will they know if they have met the assignment requirements? Consider providing a rubric or checklist.

Due Dates: When should they have their initial post submitted? This is important if you are requiring responses. When should the responses be submitted?

Use the TILT framework

The TILT framework is a great way to set up clear assignment guidelines as it communicates the purpose of the discussion and makes the requirements more transparent.

What is the purpose of this discussion? How does it connect to the course outcomes? What tasks (requirements) do they need to complete (Is there a required word count? Do they need to respond to another student's post?) What is the criteria for grading? Consider providing a model response and grading checklist.

Link to more information on TILT

Link to model TILTed discussion prompt

Establish Communication & Interaction Expectations

Create a safe and inviting space for students by providing clear directions and expectations for student-student interactions in your course. At the beginning of the quarter remind your students of your commitment to create a positive classroom atmosphere where all are respected and welcome. Consider inviting your students to co-create communication and interaction expectations, or norms.

Link to example communication expectations

Use Open-Ended Prompts

Discussions will be much richer if you ask students to respond to a prompt that has no definite answer, that gives space for them to debate, and/or that offers them a chance to share their experience related to a course topic.

Participate in the Discussion

Just as you might during an in-class discussion, engage with your students by using clarifying questions to help them think more deeply or to help correct misconceptions. You don't have to respond to every student, but it helps to have presence in the discussion board.