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Spark Engagement: Structuring Bi-Weekly Discussions in Accelerated Courses
Posted April 9, 2025
by IDLT
Faculty teaching 7- and 8-week courses know the challenge of packing a semester's worth of learning into a compressed timeframe. This intensity demands strategic course design. Bi-weekly discussions can be a powerful tool for fostering engagement and critical thinking, but they require careful planning to maximize their impact in a fast-paced environment.
Here's a guide to structuring effective bi-weekly discussions in Blackboard:
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Align Discussion Board Prompts with Learning Objectives and Progressive Learning
Each discussion prompt should directly align with specific learning objectives for the week or module. Clearly state these objectives in the prompt or module overview. Consider how the discussions build upon each other each week. In a short course, each activity must contribute significantly to the overall learning trajectory.
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Design Meaningful Prompts
Develop prompts that encourage analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application of course concepts. Connect course content to real-world scenarios or current events to pique student interest and demonstrate practical application.
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Implement a Clear Structure to Discussion Boards
Establish clear deadlines for initial posts and responses to posts and provide a rubric or details outlining expectations for participation, depth of analysis, and response quality. For example, setting Wednesday as a deadline for an initial post and Sunday for a deadline for response posts allows ample time for peer interaction.
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Foster Meaningful Interaction
Demonstrate the type of interaction you expect by providing exemplary responses. Emphasize the importance of responding thoughtfully to peers. Encourage students to build upon each other's ideas and engage in constructive dialogue. Use features like threaded discussions and to enhance interaction and organization of responses.
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Manage the Workload (for you and your students)
Consider the overall workload of the course when scheduling discussions. Avoid overloading students with multiple assignments due in the same week. Use Blackboard's grading tools to efficiently assess discussion participation. Provide timely feedback to reinforce learning and encourage continued engagement.
By implementing these strategies, you can transform bi-weekly discussion boards into a dynamic and effective learning experience for your students. We are here to support you in creating engaging and impactful online learning environments. Please reach out to the Instructional Design team for personalized assistance and consultation.
