APU Careers & Learning Online Learning

Student Response: Where Should You Designate Your Discussion Post?

You won’t always agree with your classmates on their views, but you learn through time how to respect them. As an online student most schools require a discussion forum posting in the first week of classes. Depending on the class topic and structure, this may be a weekly occurrence that will contribute to your overall grade.

In my graduate level classes I have a discussion post every week, and I’m required to respond to two of my classmates posts by the weeks end. With varying class sizes the great part about this assignment is that you have options. As you read other students’ forum postings it feels like window shopping. You read for understanding, but also with a hint of scrutiny. The option to respond is in your hands, and it gives you the power to pick the posts that interest you the most. Since you’re not in a face-to-face setting, I recommend rotating your responses every week to keep balance and make new acquaintances.

[see also: Treat Your Discussion Post Like a News Headline]

One reason you may prefer one post over another is because their ideas are antiquated, they come across as pompous, or they had nothing interesting to say. Not every post serves to entertain, instead view them as instructional. You can learn one unique thing from every person in your class, it’s up to you to give them the opportunity. The great thing about sampling from your classmates is that it gives a better understanding of your peers, and their response to you could be more insightful than the original. If you’re really struggling to identify with one of your classmates, go back to their introductory post for more information. Sometimes you need a touch of something personal to open somebody up. Your response could be the kick they need to be more compelling in class.

By J. Mason
Online Learning Tips Editor

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