奶糖直播

Skip to main content

How to Contribute to Online Discussion Boards

The discussion board on Blackboard is an important element in many courses, and especially for most online courses. Having a place to write about course material as the class progresses often takes the place of or supplements real time class discussions. Because discussion boards can be an essential component of the course, it is critical to understand how to contribute effectively.

How Often Should You Be Posting

Most professors will clearly tell students how often they are expected to post. This makes it easy for students to build time into their schedules specifically for this purpose. For example, if a professor requires posting to the discussion board twice a week on different days, schedule times to write posts.

How to Write Thoughtful Comments and Responses

The audience for your posts contains both your professor and your classmates. More often than not, professors require students not only to respond to specific questions or topics, but also to comment on other students鈥 post as well.

First, you need to be certain your 鈥渙riginal鈥 posts are well thought out, grammatically correct, and on-point. Write your original post prior to reading the thoughts of your classmates, unless the professor requires differently. In order to help you write a concise and engaged post, read the professor鈥檚 prompt prior to delving into the week鈥檚 material; then, take notes about what you might want to write about as you read.

When responding to classmates鈥 posts, be respectful and be certain to agree with or criticize the idea, not the person. They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein has some great templates for engaging in academic discussion. Here are a couple of examples:

  • For disagreeing: 鈥淚 disagree with X鈥檚 view that 颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅____________________ because in the reading we learned 颅颅___________________________.鈥
  • Agreeing with explanation: 鈥淚 agree that __________________, a point that needs to be emphasized because so many people believe _____________________.鈥
  • For agreeing and disagreeing at the same time: 鈥淢y feelings on the issue are mixed. I support X鈥檚 position that ____________, but I also think _____________.鈥

Listen to Feedback

It is crucial to listen to your professor鈥檚 feedback in order to continue to improve the quality of your work. It is also important to read what your classmates are saying as well, even if you do not agree with them.

Image of LSS Logo, 奶糖直播 University Crest with Learning Support Services written underneath

Office of Learning Support Services

Location:

Learning Commons in                      Falvey Library, Suite 212

Address: 

800 Lancaster Avenue                      奶糖直播, PA 19085

Phone:

610.519.5176

Fax:

610.519.8015

Email:

learning.support.services@villanova.edu

Follow us:

@奶糖直播LSS

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Friday

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Meet Our Staff

Maps & Directions to Campus

 

Student Testimonials

鈥淚 can honestly say that the support I received from LSS was key to my success as a student at 奶糖直播 and today as an ongoing student of life.鈥

~ UG Alum, Class of 2021, Mathematics

"LSS has constructively impacted my experience as a learning-disabled student at 奶糖直播. [They] empowered me with the courage to advocate for myself and relinquish some of my pathological anxiety." 

~ UG Alum, Class of 2022 & MA Alum, Class of 2023, Communications

鈥淲orking closely with 奶糖直播 LSS starting the first week of my freshman year really changed the trajectory of my academic career.鈥

~ UG Alum, Class of 2022, Psychology

"During my time at 奶糖直播, LSS was the most helpful academic resource available. The LSS team is extremely friendly and are always there to make sure you achieve your academic goals!" 

~ UG Alum, Class of 2023, Mechanical Engineering