Distance Learning Courses
Using Technology to
Discussions: Utilizing the Best Format for Your Purposes
lesson you will learn about different types of academic discussions and
their varying formats. You'll also begin thinking about the appropriateness
of each for your subject and learners.
through the following lesson, keeping in mind your particular
topic area and potential learner population. After your
lesson, we will have an online discussion on this topic.
end of this lesson, you will be able to:
the four types of academic discussion formats;
each format as synchronous/asynchronous and personal/text interactions;
2 advantages and disadvantages of each type of format;
which format is appropriate for your learners and topic; and
which format would be most inappropriate for your learners and topic.
Introduction to Discussion Forums: Forum Types
discussion forums can be created to serve a variety of purposes. How many
forums of what kind you decide to incorporate in any given course depends
on the format of the course, its content, the type of assignments and
evaluations, the nature of the interaction desired among learners, and
the instructional timeline.
the major types of forums and their purposes:
Biographies - Learners post a short biographical narrative
as an introduction to themselves, sometimes including a photograph and
personal information. Purposes: create a learning community;
decrease sense of isolation
Lounge - Learners can post personal messages of a non-academic
nature in this kind of forum, much as they would chat in a classroom
before or after class. Purposes: create community;
decrease sense of isolation; channel non-academic discourse into a separate
Collection - Learners post to this kind of forum to share resources
they discover as they work through course materials and activities.
Anything in digital format can be shared in an electronic forum, including
word-processed documents, graphics, photos, Web addresses, and sound
or video files. Purposes: disseminate information widely;
facilitate conversation about course materials; provide chances to contribute
Archive - Students post project ideas, outlines, and/or completed
projects for review and comment. Teacher may include one sample project
as a model to follow. Purpose: provide chances to contribute
Discussion - The main forum for posting course-related, academic
discussion in response to course assignments and activities. Purposes:
facilitate conversation about course materials; provide chances to contribute;
encourage expression of diverse viewpoints
lesson, we will focus on this last function: academic discussions.
Four types of Academic Discussion Formats
four primary formats used for academic discussion purposes. They are:
Discussion - This is the classroom discussion you are all familiar
via a Listserv - This is a discussion conducted via email where
the messages are automatically sent out to all participants who are
registered on the list. These messages appear throughout the day in
each participant's regular email box.
Discussion on the Web - This is a discussion that appears to
be similar to email, but the messages are posted on a specific web site.
Participants must log in to that site to receive or post any messages.
Chat - This is a discussion that is done on-line, but all participants
are logged in at the same time. The messages appear as a running commentary