I saw great conversations on Canvas during Online Discussions 1 and 2. That’s a fantastic start!

A few simple changes could significantly improve future discussions.

Addressing the prompt

Make sure your response addresses most, hopefully all, of the prompt’s points. It is easy to get sucked into one idea and forget to address the rest of the prompt.

A welcoming initial post

Structure your response in paragraphs. Headings are a bonus. Headings could be the question you are answering or the theme of your paragraph(s). The principles of visualization can also be applied to format text effectively. Also, avoid run-on sentences.

If your post is difficult to understand, your peers are less likely to engage you in a discussion.

A meaningful comment

Some of you only say nice things. Others just point out possible flaws. A little more balance and variety would benefit everyone. For instance, you may want to comment when a post:

• caused a eureka moment (share your revelation)
• confused you (ask for clarification)
• has hidden assumptions (talk about them)
• has assumptions you disagree with (discuss whether they are justified)
• reminded you of a cool example (explain it, perhaps include a photo)