We have dedicated a couple of our recent blog posts to active learning in the online classroom. One active learning strategy that we discussed implementing into the online classroom is the use of discussion boards. As mentioned in our February 24th post, well constructed questions that connect to course/learning objectives can facilitate engaged and purposeful discussion among the instructor and students. However, are you locked solely into a question-and-answer format within the discussion forum? Are there other types of activities that could be used within the online discussion forum setting that would effectively engage students as well as promote purposeful discussion?

In a recent Faculty Focus article written by Rob Kelly, activities that online instructors may not have previously considered to include as part of discussion forum activities (including role-play, debates, and web quests) are suggested as ways to engage students in a manner that moves past the simple read-and-respond level of engagement. Multimedia aspects can also be incorporated into online discussions such as allowing students to reply within discussion forums with a recorded audio or video response.

How about your online discussion forums? Have you tried any discussion activities in your online or hybrid courses that would help to move students to a higher level of engagement and interaction? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments section below.