What inspired or motivated you to use this tool/resource?
More than half of our PGT students study part-time and remotely with us, so we are always looking for tools and resources to keep them engaged and motivated when they can’t always join livestreamed sessions. We also draw on our wide variety of backgrounds and expertise from our students and seek ways for them to learn with and from each other. Discussion forums allow them to contribute when it works for their time zone or after working hours. The tool improves direct contact between students, creating a more cohesive group. We were originally using the tool in modules that were remote only, which was a great way to engage with the students during their studies casually and in a formative way. However since a few years we changed these to summative, and making engagement and participation the main goal. Their posts don’t have to be a perfectly crafted essay, we want them to engage with the subject matter in a light and fun way.
What was your aim in using this tool/resource?
The tool fulfils two of our aims. Firstly, it allows distance learners to be part of the classroom. If you can’t attend live, and only catch up on recordings, you never have the chance to ask questions and engage in classroom discussion. In the online platform all students have the same opportunities, they can contribute whenever their study window allows, and it works well with the full-time on campus students too. The second aim was to have better student engagement with the materials, so instead of them crunching close to a deadline on a big essay on a specific topic. The weekly discussion forum forces them to engage with the materials throughout the module, even on topics they may find less interesting initially.
What did you use the tool/resource for?
Weekly discussion forums allow the student to engage will all aspects of the module. It is easy to set up and you can attach a rubric, making marking easy and straightforward. The only challenge I’ve found is that it can be a bit clunky in use as the students create different threads and new posts appear on top. So you have to read them counterintuitively from bottom to top.
How did the tool/resource impact your teaching?
The discussion forums allow for much more in-depth exploration of the topic for which there isn’t room in a timetabled lecture/seminar. Students can reflect on the lecture and do follow up reading this allows for better consolidation of the topic. Allowing the discussion to go into various directions also allows students to follow their own interest. Student feedback has overall been positive. While they may complain during the module, they all realise that that the activity helped them keep up with their reading and engage with the topic more than they would have otherwise. As evidenced in module evaluations:
The discussions boards are an excellent platform and encouraged original and intellectually stimulating learning.
How well did the tool/resource perform, would you recommend it?
The tool works excellent for our intended purposes, apart from the sometimes clunky way of following the different threads. The tool engages students throughout and it forces them to read about the topic in a structured and bite sized way reducing risks of procrastination.
How well was the tool/resource received by students?
Some students engage straight away and understand the opportunities it provides. Others may need some extra time to warm up to the assignment and understand what is expected. They may not be used to the learning style which encourages to share their opinions and experiences. They may simply answer the originally posed question, which should be read as a prompt for discussion. During the module students may feel they can’t keep up, but at module evaluation state they recognise its value and how much more they got from the module overall:
While the discussion forums could sometimes be a bit challenging to get into, they *were* useful in pushing me to read more widely than I might otherwise have done, and exposed me to different views and readings posted by other students.
Share a ‘Top Tip’ for a colleague new to the tool/resource
Make sure you keep an eye on the discussion while it is open, this allows you to feedback informally. You can do this in a classroom session, or within the discussion if your time allows.
How would I summarise the experience in 3 words?
Consistent module engagement
Recommended reading:
Blackboard Discussion Boards: https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Ultra/Interact/Discussions
Contact for more information:
Dr Eefke Mollee: e.mollee@bangor.ac.uk
Teaching & Learning Support Team: helpdesk@bangor.ac.uk