Online Discussions

Participation in the discussion forums is critical for maximizing your learning experiences in ANT 104. In this course, you are required to be a part of an online community of learners who collectively interact, through discussion, to enhance and support the professional performance of each other. Part of the assessment criteria for the course, therefore, includes assessing the quality and quantity of your participation in the discussion forum.

Some characteristics we consider to be part of excellent discussion contributions are outlined below. I will consider these characteristics when assessing the quality and level of your participation.

You should submit your initial post(s) early in the session, and your subsequent responses to the posts of other learners at timely intervals within the duration of the session. The goal is to have a dynamic discussion around the topic that lasts throughout the entire session.
Your posts and responses should be thorough and thoughtful. Just posting an "I agree" or "Good ideas" will not be considered adequate. Support your statement with examples, experiences, or references. You are, however, encouraged to be brief — keep each post and response to one or two short paragraphs. Keep in mind that your fellow learners will be reading and responding to you, too.
Make certain that in all your posts and responses you address the question, problem, or situation as presented for discussion. This does not mean you should not extend the topic, but do not stray from the topic.
Discussions occur when there is dialogue. So, build upon the posts and responses of other learners to create discussion threads. Make sure you revisit the discussion forum and respond (if necessary) to what other learners have posted to your initial responses.
When relevant, add to the discussion by including prior knowledge, work experiences, references, Web sites, resources, etc. (giving credit when appropriate).
Your contributions to the discussions (posts and responses) should be complete and free of grammatical or structural errors.

Discussion Forum Participation Rubric

Criteria	Unsatisfactory	Satisfactory	Exemplary
Quantity and Timeliness	Does not submit at least one post early in the session and/or does not submit at least two responses to other learners at various times during the session.	Submits at least one thoughtful post early in the session, and at least two responses to other learners at various times during the session.	Submits two or more thoughtful posts early in the session, and more than two responses to other learners at various times during the session.
Spelling and mechanics	Does not submit posts that are in complete sentences. Or two or more of the complete sentences are grammatically incorrect and have greater than 2 spelling errors.	Submits posts that have one or more grammatically incorrect sentences and two spelling errors.	Submits posts that contain grammatically correct sentences without any spelling errors.
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice	Post(s) and responses show little evidence of knowledge and understanding of course content and applicability to professional practice.	Post(s) and responses show evidence of knowledge and understanding of course content and applicability to professional practice.	Post(s) and responses show evidence of knowledge and understanding of course content and applicability to professional practice and include other resources that extend the learning of the community.
Generates learning within the community	Posts do not attempt to elicit responses and reflections from other learners and/or responses do not build upon the ideas of other learners to take the discussion deeper.	Posts attempt to elicit responses and reflections from other learners and responses build upon the ideas of other learners to take the discussion deeper.	Posts elicit responses and reflections from other learners and responses build upon and integrate multiple views from other learners to take the discussion deeper.