Using Discussion Forums in Blackboard Learn Ultra

Discussion forums can be used in your module area in campus based, blended and fully online courses. They are a valuable communication tool that allow students to interact with their peers and their lecturer to discuss course administration issues, academic content or explore topics at a deeper level.

Discussion forums, due to their asynchronous nature allow time for students to reflect before posting and are an ideal way for peers to share knowledge and experiences. In this way, students look at subjects at a deeper level and get to consider topics from differing perspectives. Discussions that are structured, steered and summarised by the lecturer can aid learning, encourage critical thinking skills and help to build up a sense of community within the student cohort.

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They can also help students who feel isolated, as they can interact with peers in a safe environment and have an opportunity to raise (or access) questions that are common to their peer group. When students know that their contributions are valued and heard, they will return when they need answers or would like to discuss content in more depth. Discussions are inclusive, in that, a diverse range of participants have an equal opportunity to reflect, share and be involved in discussions no matter when they access them.

Dr Jessica Bates, School of Education, Ulster University

“The online discussion tool in Blackboard Learn Ultra provides an important opportunity for students to develop their learning around a topic by sharing their thoughts on particular readings and resources or reflecting on how the topic relates to their own workplace experiences. By interacting with each other and responding to each other’s posts they are deepening the online learning community which enriches their experiences of digital learning and their understanding of the subject.

It is also an opportunity for the module tutors to check students are fully understanding a topic and the learning material, to address any potential confusion or uncertainty, and to answer any questions the students have.”

How are discussion forums used in Ulster University?

When you create a discussion forum make sure that you students are clear on what is expected of them and moderate the discussions so that they clearly link back to learning outcomes. This will help with motivation to take part and encourage engagement with the course materials and discussion forums.

Dr Jessica Bates, School of Education, Ulster University

In the PG Dip & MSc in Library and Information Management, which is a fully online course, we make use of the online discussion boards as a learning activity both in advance of a class (‘flipped learning’) and as a follow up activity for the students to continue to explore their understanding of a topic. We can see the learning that takes place within the discussion forum and the importance of peer bonds as the participants respond to each other and share their knowledge, experiences and examples of the different course topics. We actually took the decision a few years ago to formally recognise this learning by allocating a small percentage of the overall module marks to the online discussion activity for our first two modules in the course (and this has also reinforced the importance of it with the students).” 

Useful types of discussion forums include

Ice-breakers: Ice breakers are commonly used as a method to help participants to become more comfortable in their online environment whether it’s a live classroom or asynchronous communication. They are usually activities that help to put participants at ease, break down social barriers and allow them to begin to get to know each other

Introductions: This builds up social presence and allows individuals to identify common ground and it’s always there for others (especially you as lecturer / e-tutor) to look back on to refresh their memories when they are conversing in the forums. 

Subject /topic specific: These could be peppered throughout the course, or used weekly, to apply and explore concepts or topics.

FAQs: These work well for common issues on the course and also especially for questions about upcoming assessments, lecturers will provide answers and solutions, and more often than not, peers will also! 
 

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