Guidelines for Using the Online Discussion Forum

1. Plan how you will use the discussion forum
It is important to think carefully about how the forum will be used in the course and what purpose it will serve. Communicate this to any online tutors in your topic. You need to communicate specific tasks and clear objectives to students rather than telling them to 'discuss freely.' How does the forum integrate with other components of your topic?

2. Supporting the students in the use of technology
Your class will probably include novices and the more experienced in using this technology. How will the students be supported? Who will assist with technical and password problems? Is there any written support documentation? Will there be any in-class demonstrations or hands-on workshops?

3. Introducing the forum to students
Plan how the forum technology will be presented to students. Explain how any forum will be used and the purpose of each. Are you using a threaded discussions? Do the students know when to reply and when to start a new thread? Allow them to experiment in the forum to gain an understanding of the technology.

4. Establish protocols
'Netiquette' is a term used for the rules governing polite behaviour on the internet. Establish these rules or allow students to establish a class norm through discussion.

5. Are student contributions assessable?
If the students' postings will contribute to their assessment, think about whether they will be evaluated on the quantity of postings, the quality of postings, or both. 

6. Establish frequency of lecturer use
Keeping up with the forum is time-consuming, however, so set realistic estimates for how many times you will access the forum each week and make this clear to the students.  Inform the group if you are going to be offline for a while.

7. Multiple forums
If you have a number of forums, students may initially post to the wrong one. As a designer, you are able to move student postings. Take the time to do this early in the semester so that other students don't 'reply' in the wrong area too.

8. Refer to the forum in class discussions
Relate forum discussions to other aspects of the topic by citing forum comments in lectures or tutorials.  Students appreciate knowing that lecturers read and respond to their ideas.

9. Review and modify the use of the forum if need be
If your use of the forum is not working as you had expected/hoped don't be afraid to change your strategies to improve interactions. Computer based discussion is adaptable and allows you to communicate changes to your students.

10. Foster student to student interaction
Encourage student interaction and collaboration. Don't be too quick to post a response, or post with definitive answers - thus stifling student conversation.