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Instructor Engagement Suggestions

Options for engagement:

• Read and respond to student posts "live" during the time that students are required to post. This approach allows you to keep track of where students are at with the course material, and/or to redirect or correct any mistaken or problematic material, to point students to other threads that they might benefit from.
  • Bonus: this approach fosters community.
  • Drawback: depending on the instructor interaction it has the potential to limit student interaction as they wait to hear from the instructor.
• Read or skim student pots "live" during the time that students are required to post, responding only as needed to incorrect or problematic information, keeping track of themes and items to address after the forum closes. Then write or record a summary of the discussion and post it as an announcement in the LMS (Moodle). It can work well to incorporate this into a weekly intro/overview announcement.
  • Bonus: students feel the freedom to "own" the discussion.
  • Drawback: there might be a loss of student-to-instructor community. (recording a video summary can help mitigate this.)
  Regardless of the way you choose to engage in the forum, providing prompt feedback is important

General suggestions 

• Remind students to be encouraging to one another, even on challenging or heated topics, while also inviting them to analyze and debate.
• Connect personally with students to thank them for their contributions or to encourage them to contribute in a different way.
• Point out interesting contributions and good work. 
• Provide prompt feedback. This is especially true in courses that use forums regularly, since feedback should can help students to improve their posts from week-to-week. 

Forum Grading

• Forum grading can be complex and time-consuming, but with a good plan it can be manageable.
• These tutorials offer grading options. Additionally, Bethel's Instructional Technologist is available for consultation.
• Try to avoid giving points just for showing up in a discussion.
• Consider giving points for posts that make meaningful contributions to the conversation and student learning.