The Death of Discussion Boards in DE

What can faculty do? Yes, reply, and don't reply with "great job!". Ask questions. If they are incorrect in their understanding of the material, I ask them to do addition research and ask a probing question. If you don't have time, you may not be in the right place! Look, you don't like discussion, fine. Every faculty member should find their own path and use their own personality to drive student relationships, if their institutions allow. But there is much more to true discussion than this! I don't "mess" with students. I tell them the truth in meaningful ways and show them that I truly want them to succeed and learn material I deem important. I often make suggestions for improvement, if someone doesn't quite understand the issues. I learned that any small negative thing written is real LOUD! Do I make corrections, absolutely, often, but I don't go online and embarrass; I have a conversation with them via a Zoom call or just telephone.

Like Master Commandant Perry I think I have seen the enemy, and it are us! "Read all that garbage?' If that's what you call it, then you may want to reconsider the way the discussion question was designed. In a simple example- CMS has just decided to review Medicare Advantage marketing and advertising. My recent health policy class in the final discussion had to do some research on that topic and provide minimum 250 words on the subject. I read and responded to each, and asked questions related to their points, some wrong and some on point,

This takes time. But if you truly love teaching Discussion can be a valuable tool for free flow of information. I do, and I've trained countless others over the years since Mr. Gore invented his marvelous Internet!

Bottom line- I am seeing so many institutions go to cookie cutter courses. They all look alike and are multiple choice responses to most questions. Think about ways you can support the students and help them be the very best they can be. That won't be accomplished with AI or any other tool. Real live faculty member with the human connection, and yes, you can achieve that online it you try.

 

This whole post is one of the finest comments I've ever read on DI. If we had a "Like it, Love it, Crazy about it!" button, I'd have clicked it. Kudos, props and respect, for the author!!!

 

Thank you, Sir. Even an old squirrel finds a nut now and then! I'm glad somebody liked it!

 

Well-placed and appreciated. Another good one!

 

With 35-40 students in a class, canned curriculum and adjunct wages? You are dreaming sir.

 

Where I am on faculty, they don't used canned curricula, faculty design and developed learning activities based on an approved syllabus. I love it, and will continue, and Discussion is far from dead. I am not sure what wages you are used to, but I'm paid well for my work.

 

Tired myth.

 

I think we all, including poster @wmcdonald know it's a myth, Rich. Recited tongue-in-cheek, a myth becomes a quip. Mildly funny, because we know it's a ridiculous assertion.

But I'm sure you realized all that.

 

No offense intended, just a joke.

 

None taken. I'm not Al Gore.

 

When I was enrolled (online) at National University from 2012-2014, we didn't have canned curriculums created by textbook publishers like today. Every one of my online classes met live on the assigned weeknights and we were all in the "classroom" in audio mode. It was like a regular classroom, except online - we had a button to raise our hands to ask a question, etc. If it could be done then, why can't it be done now? Side Note: I wonder if NU still has live online classes?

 

Me too, Steve. He laughed when I mentioned his marvelous Internet!

 

Where do you teach health policy? (I'm possibly looking for an MPH program.)

 

I teach in two programs. My first is SIU Carbondale MHA program. Another is Valparaiso University. Health Policy is a course in both programs, both online.

 

I have had several classes that required discussion boards. I'm that guy...the one that gives uber effort and tries to get posted first to set the tone.

While I typically blow off graduation ceremonies, I did attend my BSN graduation. One of my professors came and found a group of us standing idly by before the ceremonies. After she thanked us for our performance in her class she looked at me and said, "Now Steven here really set the bar high for those discussion boards...he challenged me to up my game in my posts..."

 

Kaplan U. was the last big user of online synchronous lectures among the online giants and they disappeared circa 2017.

 

Probably realized over time that more students could enroll (from around the world) for asynchronous classes than the live, synchronous kind. More students, more revenue.

The synchronous style also leaves many people behind: Those at work during the meeting time, those with caregiving responsibilities at meeting time, those with the kinds of disabilities that make it very difficult to meet at that particular time, etc.

 

Did you read 2500 posts?

 

Over a semester, yes, and more.