Module #3:
Article Review-
Benefits of Using Discussion Boards in Your Classes, www.wpi.edu/Academics/ATC/Collabortory.com

Improving the Use of Discussion Boards,
www.wpi.edu/Academics/ATC/Collaborary.com

In both Benefits of Using Discussion Boards and Improving Use of Discussion Boards, the writers express how effective the use of discussion boards in your online classroom are. Students who may not express themselves in a traditional classroom are more apt to express their ideas in a classroom discussion board online. The first article also explains how a student that may not feel comfortable in the social aspects of a traditional classroom will feel more comfortable in an online discussion board because it removes the social aspect of the class. In an online classroom equipped with discussion boards, students are also more likely to cite specific readings and course information. The discussions that take place between classmates is usually deeper and at a higher level when completed on a discussion board.

Both articles are helpful for a teacher new to online teaching, as well as a teacher who may be a vet to online teaching. I personally found the article helpful in reiterating that the online blog I use in my current traditional classroom may be enhancing my students experience more than I had originally thought. The articles also pointed out what I have always thought to be true, that the online classroom removes some of the racial and gender inequalities that happen in the classroom at times.

What I found to be somewhat unrealistic is that the article states that the online discussion board will create a better student to student interaction, but I find that hard to believe. For me, I find it easier to make a relationship with someone who is there face to face rather than one that you don't actually see daily. Although this may be the case, one way to avoid this is to allow for the use of webcams in your online class to help create that bond.

Again, I would recommend this article to a co-worker who may be interested in teaching an online course.