Best Practices - http://subchange.pbworks.com/best-practices
How to Improve Fourm Discussions
Consider the following: 1) provide a rubric for how postings will be evalauted 2) link the discussion forums to the content of the weekly subject matter of the class 3) Create discusion questions which foster greater cognitive and exploratory learning of the class materials 4) Create discussion questions which develop critical thinking skills 5) Create discussion forums that haveopen-ended questions instead of closed-ended questions whenever possible. Play "devil's advocate" by asking probing questions, using contradictions and counterexamples, and challenging students to apply their learning to novel situations, practical scenarios, and prior learning. View an excellent example of this methodology being applied in the teaching of an engineering principle.
Ways to Improve Forums
1. http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/asynchronous-learning-and-trends/four-ways-to-improve-online-discussion-forums/
2. http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/asynchronous-learning-and-trends/three-ways-to-increase-the-quality-of-students-discussion-board-comments/
3. http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/ATC/Collaboratory/Idea/boards.html