The Effective Use of Online Discussion Forums

Discussion forums have become a standard element of online courses for a variety of reasons. They provide a way for students and faculty to interact with each other and to discuss course topics effectively and efficiently. Discussions can be separated by thread, meaning multiple discussions can occur at the same time. The asynchronous nature of discussion forums allows students and faculty to review posts and contribute to discussions at any time they are able to do so. They can also meet student needs for socialization and interaction, providing them with a sense of belonging that may be otherwise difficult to achieve in an online course. This article will focus on the use of discussion forums in online education. It will include content on best practices, limitations, and issues to be aware of when using discussion forums in online courses.