Setting up a discussion forum

Description

Discussion forums can be a central part of online language learning because of their strong reliance on written language and asynchronous communication. Learners will have time to read, reflect, compose, and respond to classmates and facilitators.

However, the asynchronous nature of discussion forums can also create stress for language learners. Learners may feel uneasy about posting in their target language for everyone to see. They may also feel overwhelmed by the amount of reading and writing that they need to do in order to keep up with the discussion.

This resource is a description of ways to help you set up a discussion forum effectively for language learning. It includes a useable rubric for discussion posts.