Discussion forum tips for learners
Description
When participating in a discussion forum, language learners will need to attend to the language they are reading, writing, and posting in. In addition, they will attend to the interface language which is likely also English. A discussion forum can be overwhelming for language learners. Learners who are new to online learning may also have the added barrier of not being familiar with the norms of communicating in a space like a discussion forum. Even learners who have online experience might not readily distinguish between the casual use of text communication and the academic space of the class discussion forum.
Providing a reminder to your learners about effective practices for discussion forums will help them to reduce their cognitive load and it will set clear expectations for participating in a discussion. Ideally, you want learners to focus on their use and development of target language, rather than spending the bulk of their effort on the technology and culture of discussion forum communication, or on deciphering instructions and expectations for the discussion activity.
This resource is a list of ways your learners can participate in discussion forums to help them communicate effectively and clearly. It includes examples of good and bad posts and an animation video.