Online Learning Update

If online students want to have a real conversation about class material, they have one place to do it: the discussion board, a major component of most online courses.

“They are the best part of the classes,” says Paulina Erices, who is earning her online bachelor’s degree in psychology from Pennsylvania State University—World Campus. “The interaction on the discussion boards allows me to hear other people’s opinions. They have life experiences related to what we are studying and it is really interesting because it goes beyond what we are studying to what is happening in the field.” When online discussion boards come together well, students can actually learn more from them than from other parts of class, instructors say. But getting the most out of a discussion board – and earning the high marks to show for it – isn’t easy. Below, experts share tips for how to ace the discussion board component of online class.