A discussion board is an online tool which allows group communication. There are many benefits of using a discussion board in classrooms such as building connections and class community by promoting discussion. It allows students who don't really participate in a traditional classroom to have a voice and share with their classmates. Discussion boards also provide time for thoughtful and in-depth reflection or responses. Students are given more time to review the work of others, think about and compose their thoughts before contributing to the discussion. In order for discussion boards to be successful, it is important to establish and communicate ground rules about writing expectations, rules of netiquette, and how students will be evaluated. Perhaps even more important is ensuring that students are engaged with questions that promote discussion.

I see many possibilities of how I could use a discussion board in my classroom to deepen learning, but what seems to stand out in my mind is using it as online literature circles. Literature circles provide a way for the students to engage in critical thinking as they read. Students work collaboratively to construct meaning through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response. Each student would be able to post what they have been assigned for the week and group members could respond to the posts. When reading a novel, students also do a lot of journaling which they share with the class, and we have an in-class discussion. But with the use of a discussion board, all that could occur online, and even the shyest students would able to participate. It is a very exciting possibility for me next year.