Guidelines for Conducting an Online Discussion

An online peer discussion provides a context for students to meet and interact with other students as they work through their course of study. It also provides the opportunity to receive the value of interactivity in distance learning. (Standards for accreditation set by ATS include interactivity as a compulsory component of any distance learning program.)

Procedure.

• Your contribution should demonstrate original thought and grappling with pertinent issues with respect to the topic.


• Use proper grammar and punctuation. ( ;-} This is not a txt msg )


• Your interaction will be considered as complete or incomplete based on the substance of your contribution.


• Failure to complete the interaction requirements will have negative repercussions on the course grade.

Guidelines for Conducting a Panel Discussion

A panel discussion provides an opportunity to listen in on an informed discussion of an issue or topic and then engage the topic onesself. A panel discussion is intended to help members of an audience to increase their understanding of the topic, to clarify the issue and to evaluate their own position on that topic..

Procedure.

• The panel moderator will introduce the topic or issue and the panelists and then pose an opening question to the panel or to a specific panelist to start the discussion. The panelists' initial presentations may ordered in order to enhance the development of the topic or issue.


• Panelists present their findings or views in a specified amount of time. The panelists and moderator will have agreed on how the moderator will call time.