Discussions: Guidelines & Resources
Peer Review
Certain assignments may require you to provide feedback to your classmates and you will receive feedback in return. The guides below will help you participate in the peer review process:
- What is a peer review assignment?
- How do I submit a peer review to an assignment?
- How do I know if I have a peer review assignment to complete?
- Where can I find my peers' feedback for peer-reviewed assignments?
Group Work
The following guides will provide assistance with how to create and manage group work:
- How do I view all groups in a course as a student? Links to an external site.
- How do I upload a file to a group? Links to an external site.
- How do I start a collaboration in a group? Links to an external site.
- How do I create a discussion in a group? Links to an external site.
The Discussion Board
- The discussion board is a virtual classroom where students can answer questions, post discussions, and further delve into course content.
- This is comparable to a face-to-face classroom environment where students participate in a live discussion. In our virtual classroom, students are required to check the discussion boards frequently and be sure to respond to classmates or instructor as directed.
How to Respond
- For every discussion question, a prompt is provided with detailed information and requirements for your response.
- You may be required to respond to one or more of your classmates' postings.
- Specific requirements are posted in each discussion prompt.
- All posts and responses should:
- contain proper grammar,
- be free of spelling errors,
- be substantial,
- reflect critical thinking.
- Posting "I agree", "I disagree", "No", or, "Yes" does not qualify as substantial and will not earn points.
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NO PLAGIARISM: All responses or comments must be original.
- Avoid the copy/paste function unless using citations.
- For more information on plagiarism and how to avoid it, review the following tutorial: Understanding Plagiarism Links to an external site..
Netiquette Notes
- Communicating online, in both assignments and emails, requires careful and concise writing, but should also allow your unique personality to shine through! Though humor is effective and at times relevant in discussion, be sure to avoid sarcasm.
- Be supportive, considerate, and constructive when replying to your classmates.
- Do not use jargon, slang, or inappropriate language.
- If you disagree with a classmate, please respond in a respectful and tactful manner.
- Refrain from using the discussion board as forum for complaints.
- Any personal issues or concerns can be relayed through private e‐mail.
Other Important Tips
- Remember to check the course syllabus for weekly discussion and assignment due dates.