As technology continues to improve and spread, it is only natural for it to arrive in the classroom. As computers, tablets and smartphones become more readily available, it is becoming easier and easier for students to use the Internet and to communicate with the world, especially through social media sites such as Facebook, Vine and Twitter.

You ask that we "summarize your understanding of the Discussion Board and discuss how you could use this in your classroom to deepen learning" in our initial post.
In the link "Enhancing Teaching and Learning with the On-line Discussion Forum" from Drs. Cavanaugh many of the old elements of a discussion board or forum were outlined. These include the ability to share, contribute, collect, connect and exchange ideas, viewpoints and an understanding of the material and instruction within the online course framework. This article does seem a little antiquated and we have moved beyond this process in many if not most discussion forums today. In an elementary, middle school and high school classroom, I believe the moderator or host would need to play a key role in insuring diplomacy and fundamental rules were enforced in these types of settings. I have been a part of numerous discussion boards and forums and seen these purposes obtained and I have seen them fail as the conversation turned into a contest or battle of viewpoints.