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<p>How do I use the Discussion Boards? (Bb - Student)</p><p><HR> <DIV> <UL> <LI><SMALL><A style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana" href="http://www.blackboard.com/docs/documentation.htm?DocID=173003en_US" target=_blank>Blackboard 7.3 - Instructor Manual</A></SMALL></LI> <LI><SMALL><A style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana" href="http://www.blackboard.com/docs/documentation.htm?DocID=173002en_US" target=_blank>Blackboard 7.3 - Student Manual</A></SMALL></LI> <LI><SMALL><A style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana" href="http://learningforlife.fsu.edu/online/usingbb/7.3_addons.cfm" target=_blank>Blackboard 7.3 - New Features</A></SMALL></LI></UL></DIV> <HR> <H2><FONT size=2>Discussion Boards</FONT></H2> <P><FONT size=2>The Discussion Board is a communication tool that can be used to enhance a course Web site. Conversations are grouped in threads that contain a main posting and all related replies. The Discussion Board Forum page is the first page accessed when the <STRONG>Discussion Board</STRONG> link is clicked from the Instructor Control Panel.<BR></FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>From the Student view:</FONT></P> <BLOCKQUOTE> <P><FONT size=2>Read/Respond to a Thread</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <OL> <OL> <OL> <LI><FONT size=2>Click on the<STRONG> Discussion Board </STRONG>button, or the<STRONG> Discussion Boards </STRONG>link in the Communication section. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Click on the <STRONG>Discussion</STRONG> link. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Click on the <STRONG>Reply</STRONG> button. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Fill in the <STRONG>Message</STRONG> field. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the <STRONG>Submit</STRONG> button. </FONT></LI></OL></OL></OL> <BLOCKQUOTE> <P><FONT size=2>Create a new Thread</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <OL> <OL> <OL> <LI><FONT size=2>Click on the<STRONG> Discussion Board </STRONG>button, or the<STRONG> Discussion Boards </STRONG>link in the Communication section. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Click on the <STRONG>Add</STRONG> <STRONG>Forum</STRONG> button. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Fill in the <STRONG>Title</STRONG> and <STRONG>Description</STRONG> fields. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the <STRONG>Submit</STRONG> button. </FONT></LI></OL></OL></OL> <P><FONT size=2></FONT> </P> <H2 class=nobot><FONT size=2>Understand it.</FONT></H2> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>The <STRONG>Discussion Board</STRONG> tool lets every member of your class discuss a topic online. <BR>...<EM>Your instructor will provide you with one or more weekly topics to discuss.</EM> </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Think of these discussions as similar to the talks you would have in a regular class, except that you will be typing your comments rather than speaking them. <BR>...<EM>As you would in class discussions, be respectful toward others in your responses.</EM> </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Some classes may have a Discussion Board for course content and another for students to chat informally about the course or on topics not specifically related to the course content. <BR>...<EM>Regardless of how many Discussion Boards a course has, you will use the same processes to read and post comments.</EM> </FONT></LI></UL> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT> </P> <P align=left><STRONG><FONT size=2>Use it.</FONT></STRONG></P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 1</EM>. Click the Discussion Board tool.</FONT></H3> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT> </P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2.</EM> Review the layout of the Discussion Board.</FONT></H3> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>After you click <STRONG>Discussion Board</STRONG>, a web page similar to the one below will appear. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>The links to forums are highlighted (in the example below, they're in a large blue font) and are usually topics or week numbers. Each <EM>forum</EM> contains messages related to a main topic of discussion. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Your instructor will direct you to the forums you will participate in for a given week. </FONT></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 3.</EM> Choose a Discussion Board forum.</FONT></H3> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>Click the forum you have been directed to join. </FONT></LI></UL> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT> </P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 4.</EM> List the messages within a forum.</FONT></H3> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>After you click a forum, a web page similar to the one below will appear. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>This page lists the <STRONG>subject</STRONG>, <STRONG>author</STRONG>, and <STRONG>date</STRONG> of the messages posted by members of your class, including the instructor. </FONT></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=2><STRONG><EM>Note:</EM></STRONG> All postings should relate to the forum or main topic of the discussion.</FONT></P> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>During your discussion, you will <EM>reply</EM> to the <EM>responses</EM> that others have posted,or you could be the first person to post a message. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Click the plus (+) or minus (-) symbols to show more or fewer messages in the summary window. </FONT></LI></UL> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 5.</EM> Identify the threads (groups of related messages) your instructor or mentor/teaching assistant has directed you to read.</FONT></H3> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>Responses are listed below the original message and indented to the right of it. All messages listed in this indented fashion are responses. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Taken together, the original and all messages that respond to it are called a discussion <EM>thread</EM>. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>A message that is NOT indented starts a new thread. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Sub-threads can appear within responses; use the indentations as a visual cue of the various directions the discussions have taken. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Threads do not change the overall topic, but they may raise a new point about the topic. </FONT></LI></UL> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 6.</EM> Click the subject of any listed message to read that message.</FONT></H3> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>After you click a plus sign (+), all the messages in that thread will appear. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>When all the threads have been displayed, the plus sign will convert to a minus sign (-). </FONT></LI></UL> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 7.</EM> Read the postings of responses and replies on the Discussion Board.</FONT></H3> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>Open a message by clicking the subject of a listed message. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Notice the sections of the message. </FONT></LI></UL> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT> </P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 8.</EM> Prepare and send a reply to a Discussion Board message.</FONT></H3> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>After you click <STRONG>Reply</STRONG> to respond to a message, a web page similar to the one below will appear. </FONT></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=2>To reply, do the following:</FONT></P> <OL> <LI><FONT size=2>Type your response in the Messagebox. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Click <STRONG>Preview</STRONG> to view your message as it will display to others. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Click <STRONG>Cancel</STRONG> if you do not want to post your response. </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Click <STRONG>Submit</STRONG> to post your message to the forum so that others can read it. </FONT></LI></OL> <P><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <H2 class=nobot><FONT size=2>Use it well.</FONT></H2> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 1.</EM> Follow good discussion board practices in posting and responding.</FONT></H3> <P><FONT size=2>As you know from traditional, face-to-face classes, the amount and type of interaction among instructors and students can be quite different from one class to another.</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>Some classes have mostly one-way communication, with the instructor doing most of the talking and students listening. Other classes have a lot of student interaction, whether in small groups or whole-class discussions.</FONT></P> <P><FONT size=2>Further, classroom discussion is very dependent on the topic of the class. In some, most discussion is about clarifying facts and processes:</FONT></P> <P><STRONG><EM><FONT size=2>"What's the correct answer?"</FONT></EM></STRONG></P> <P><EM><STRONG><FONT size=2>"What conversion factor do I use?"</FONT></STRONG></EM></P> <P><EM><STRONG><FONT size=2>"When did Britain invade France?"</FONT></STRONG></EM></P> <P><EM><STRONG><FONT size=2>"How do I solve this equation?"</FONT></STRONG></EM></P> <P><FONT size=2>These kinds of discussions usually involve closed questions, in which there is usually a single right or wrong answer. Even in these cases, there can still be discussion about whether or not the information is correct, why two sources give conflicting answers, and so on.</FONT></P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 1 continued.</EM> Follow good discussion board practices in posting and responding.</FONT></H3> <P><FONT size=2>Other classes or topics involve more <EM>open questions</EM>, which give students a wide latitude in how they can respond. Discussion might revolve around things like:</FONT></P> <P><STRONG><EM><FONT size=2>"How are energy prices related to production capabilities?"</FONT></EM></STRONG></P> <P><EM><STRONG><FONT size=2>"Identify the correct formula and explain why it was selected."</FONT></STRONG></EM></P> <P><EM><STRONG><FONT size=2>"Describe your experience with the aging process."</FONT></STRONG></EM></P> <P><EM><STRONG><FONT size=2>"Compare and contrast television and the Internet."</FONT></STRONG></EM></P> <P><FONT size=2>These topics do not just require longer answers -- the discussion involves a lot of <EM>qualitative, evaluative</EM> talking, includes many <EM>opinion</EM> statements, and often requires that students or instructors present <EM>arguments</EM> in favor of their statements.</FONT></P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2.</EM> Review a sample series of Discussion Board messages.</FONT></H3> <P><FONT size=2>Because of the wide range of classroom discussion practices, it is impossible for us to give you a one-size-fits-all example here. Your course instructor will provide guidelines for appropriate discussion postings in your class, including (but not limited to):</FONT></P> <UL> <LI><FONT size=2>The topic of your postings </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>How long they should be </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>How often you should post </FONT> <LI><FONT size=2>Whether you should respond to the postings of others </FONT></LI></UL> <P><FONT size=2>The following example illustrates a good use of the discussion board in a class about accounting practices. The forum topic involves application of class topics to the workplace. The discussion takes place among three students (Alice, Michael, and Juan) -- but remember: <EM>all</EM> students in the class or group can read and respond to these messages.</FONT></P> <H3><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2 continued.</EM> Review a sample series of Discussion Board messages.</FONT></H3> <P><FONT size=2>In the first posting, Alice sent a message about a new subject, "Rebate 2001," thereby starting a new thread in the forum. Her message is focused on a specific issue:</FONT></P> <DIV align=center><FONT size=2></FONT></DIV> <DIV align=center><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <H3 align=left><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2 continued.</EM> Review a sample series of Discussion Board messages.</FONT></H3> <P align=left><FONT size=2>Next, Michael visits the discussion forum and sees Alice&'s message listed there. He clicks the subject line to open and read her post, and decides to respond. In his message, he acknowledges Alice's question and promises to get more information. At the same time, since he can see that Alice is dealing with rebates, he decides to ask her about an approach to explaining rebate delays:</FONT></P> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <P align=left><FONT size=2>Notice how the course-website software has inserted "Re:" in the subject line of Michael's reply, to indicate that his message is in response to the topic of Alice's original post. This continues the "2001 Rebate" thread and makes it easier to find messages about this thread in the list of postings in the main forum window. If we were to look at the list of posts there now, we might see:</FONT></P> <DIV align=center> <TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>- Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Foster, Alice</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 3:36 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=25>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Jones, Michael</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:05 PM</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <P align=left><FONT size=2>Notice how Michael's response is indented beneath Alice's original post, indicating that it is a <EM>response to</EM> and <EM>continuation of</EM> the "Rebate 2001" thread. Even though Michael brought up a new topic, the message was still related to Alice's post.</FONT> </P> <H2 class=nobot align=left><FONT size=2>Use it well.</FONT></H2> <H3 align=left><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2 continued.</EM> Review a sample series of Discussion Board messages.</FONT></H3> <P align=left><FONT size=2>Next, Juan visits the forum and sees the posts from Alice and Michael. He wants to respond to both of them. Which post does he reply to?</FONT></P> <P align=left><FONT size=2>If he wants to give a single response to both posts, he should open Michael&'s post and reply to it. That way his response will be indented below Michael&'s in the list:</FONT></P> <P align=center> <TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>- Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Foster, Alice</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 3:36 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=25>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Jones, Michael</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:05 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=55>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Martinez, Juan</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:33 PM</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P> <P align=center><FONT size=2>If he were instead responding <EM>just to Alice's post</EM>, he would open her post and reply to it. His response would still appear below Michael's (since it happened later), but it will <STRONG>only</STRONG> be indented as far as Michael's -- since both his and Michael's posts are responses to Alice's:</FONT></P> <P align=center> <TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>- Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Foster, Alice</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 3:36 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=25>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Jones, Michael</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:05 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=25>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Martinez, Juan</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:33 PM</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> </P> <H3 align=left><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2 continued.</EM> Review a sample series of Discussion Board messages.</FONT></H3> <P align=left><FONT size=2>Here's what Juan posted:</FONT></P> <P align=center><FONT size=2></FONT></P> <P align=left><FONT size=2>Notice that this reply responds to the issues brought up in the discussion about rebates, rather than discussing unrelated issues. It remains on-topic and does not "talk past" the other postings.</FONT></P> <H3 align=left><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2 continued.</EM> Review a sample series of Discussion Board messages.</FONT></H3> <P align=left><FONT size=2>Juan <EM>could have</EM> posted two separate messages, one responding to Alice and the other responding to Michael. If he had, the forum list might have looked like this:</FONT></P> <P align=center> <TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>- Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Foster, Alice</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 3:36 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=25>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Jones, Michael</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:05 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=55>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Martinez, Juan</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:33 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=25>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Martinez, Juan</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:38 PM</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P> <P align=left><FONT size=2>In that example, Juan's first post -- a response to Michael, is indented below Michael's post. Juan's second post is a reply to Alice's message (as is Michael's), so it is only indented once. Indenting the posts in the forum list helps you see which ones are most closely related.</FONT></P> <H3 align=left><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2 continued.</EM> Review a sample series of Discussion Board messages.</FONT></H3> <P align=left><FONT size=2>In the above examples, all the posts remain in the same "Rebate 2001" thread. Every message that follows Alice's first post is indented at least once. It is not always easy to decide what is a new thread when you are following up, just as it is not always clear whether topics and ideas are related to one another. If Juan, Michael, or Alice (or another person in the class) decided to create a new topic thread, the list of posts might look like this:</FONT></P> <P align=center> <TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>- Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Foster, Alice</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 3:36 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=25>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Jones, Michael</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:05 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=55>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Martinez, Juan</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:33 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2><IMG height=1 alt="" src="http://online.fsu.edu/Gfx/pix.gif" width=25>Re: Rebate 2001</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Martinez, Juan</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 8:38 PM</FONT></TD></TR> <TR class=tabletext> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>- Cash Flows</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Jones, Michael</FONT></TD> <TD class=tabletext><FONT size=2>Friday, July 13, 2001 9:05 PM</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P> <P align=left><FONT size=2>... and so on.</FONT></P> <P align=left><FONT size=2><STRONG><EM>Note</EM></STRONG><EM>:</EM> In some classes, you will not be able to start a new thread/topic, but will be responding to posts created by the instructor or mentor/teaching assistant. In such cases, ALL student posts will be responses to an original post.</FONT> </P> <H3 align=left><FONT size=2><EM>Step 2 continued.</EM> Review a sample series of Discussion Board messages.</FONT></H3> <P align=left><FONT size=2><EM>Remember,</EM> good discussion posts:</FONT></P> <DIV align=center> <UL> <LI> <DIV align=left><FONT size=2>Keep to the topic </FONT></DIV> <LI> <DIV align=left><FONT size=2>Are responsive to earlier messages (showing that you have read them) </FONT></DIV> <LI> <DIV align=left><FONT size=2>Raise or answer open questions rather than just saying "Me too!" </FONT></DIV></LI></UL></DIV> <P align=left><FONT size=2>Your course instructor will give you further guidelines about what is expected from you in the class discussion forums.</FONT></P> <P align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </P></SPAN> <P><STRONG><FONT size=2>More Information</FONT></STRONG></P> <P><FONT size=2><STRONG>Q:</STRONG> How do I add a file to my Discussion Thread?<BR><STRONG>A:</STRONG> In the Reply area, there is an Option to Browse for an Attachment. Click on the Browse button and select your file. <BR><STRONG>Note: </STRONG>File names should be accessible via cross platforms (works on Macs and PC's). All files should have a three letter file extension (such as .doc or .htm), which designates its file type. To prevent conflicts, file names should contain no spaces or special character except the underscore (_) and only one period before the file extension (ex: HomeWorkOne.doc).</FONT></P></p><h3>Alternate Questions/Keywords</h3><p></p><br><br><br><br><a target='_new' href='http://www.parature.com' style='font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;color:999999;'>Help Desk and Customer Support Software by Parature</a>