Substantive discussion information
CDEL 0003 GREEN COURSE
Substantive Discussion
Substantive discussion posts require that we move beyond the "good job" and "I agree" posts and really dig into the material. A few sentences that pat someone on the back and quote back what they have said does not equal substantive discussion. Although, it is a nice confidence booster for those that receive the "good job".Substantive discussion in a written format is going to be a challenge. Many are not used to communicating in this type of environment. However, in business many times wirtten communication is how things are "sold" to the powers-that-be. The challenge is to move from the shallow end of the pool and to jump into the deep end with your discussion.The discussions give you an opportunity to test your application skills and learn to think more critically about the choices you make.
The discussion questions provide you with a forum for sharing your viewpoints, opinions (your opinions should always be supported with reference maerial), knowledge, and skill. The bulk of the interaction in the discussion boards should come from you. What is often invaluable in these forums is the way in which you can learn from each other. When you share your perspective with fellow learners your overall understanding of the material deepens. Therefore, the grading for this component surrounds your discussion with your peers. The depth of that discussion has an impact on your points.
Please make sure that you watch for questions to your original reponses and make a point to answer these questions.The original post and the two responses are the minimum required. You should be discussing with more posts throughout the week. This means, you can't wait until the last day of the discussion to throw things out there. I am going to look at dates and my expection is that you have been discussing all week. When you ask questions of each other or I ask questions, make sure that these questions are being addressed and continue to develop the level of understanding.
The point of discussion is not to throw together an essay and then make a quick comment to someone's post and then quit. The spirit of discussion is tied to developing a deeper understanding of the material. When the discussion centers on a lively topic, it is not unusual for students to read what classmates are talking about and to post multiple notes. Effective responses relate theory or methods to personal experiences, so feel free to comment, critique, and suggest. Think about quality and frequency as you strike up a conversation with your fellow classmates.