Stimulate a good discussion forum

In my opinion, they should have good knowledge of the subject being discussed and also be in a position to articulate their issues well.
In addition, if the students know that they will be graded for participating, they are most likely participate .

What needs to be in place for online course participants to actively participate in a good argument?
- By posting in the discussion forums higher level (application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation) rather than lower level (knowledge and comprehension) questions as given in the Bloom’s Taxonomy. This will lead to deeper discussions by the participants.
- Grading of the discussion forums with a rubric that will give a guide on what is required.
How would you do this online?
- Waiting before replying to a student so as to give others in class a chance to respond. However if need be, you can address the student in private via email.
- Have students post their initial responses to the reading to you in private through the journal tools before participating in the discussion. It gives them a chance to collect their thoughts and practice before engaging their peers for discussion.
- Divide the class into discussion groups so as to reduce the cognitive load and increase discussion, this is because each student is required to make original post and make at least 2 replies.
- Create forum with discussion prompt and allow students create their own threads or topics.

Personally, i would utilize small groups of between 3-5 learners to ensure everyone contributes hence improving an individual's engagement levels and employ a variety of lesson activities which include multimedia, such as games and video; Use audio files, discussion boards, video chat sessions, and instant messaging which will keep the learners actively engaged. In addition, Let learners know that you're paying attention and care about what they contribute by turning their discussion topics into questions in their assessments such as quizzes, end of semester exams hence will not take anything for granted. Lastly, Comprehensive and insightful feedback will give learners basis to grow on and motivate them to remain engaged.

A sound knowledge base on the content in the platform is key, it is able to stimulate health discussions.
as a facilitator, I can couple my content by attaching photos, Images, Videos, Tweets, and Links, to my content
further ensuring that I have read all the Posts from my learners; responding to learners promptly and with questions where possible, doing affirmations and giving feedback, asking questions, and Challenging my learners to think; where discussions are Lagging I may be forced to re-framing the questions. this way my learners will participate and bring life to the discussions.

To stimulate a good discussion forum, the facilitator has to pose questions, guide the discussions and inform the learners that their participation will be graded

Students should stick to the topic of discussion and be encouraged to reply to one another's posts. Good knowledge of the subject area by students is also important

Based on my experience and discussions with colleagues, here are some key requirements for active participation in online course arguments:

Clear instructions and expectations. Students should have a clear understanding of what is expected of them in terms of participation in online arguments. This includes understanding the purpose of the argument, the topics that are up for debate, and the criteria for a good argument.
A safe and supportive environment. Students need to feel safe and comfortable sharing their ideas and opinions, even if they are unpopular or controversial. This means creating an environment where everyone is respected and where different perspectives are valued.
Opportunities to practice. Students need opportunities to practice arguing online before they are expected to engage in high-stakes arguments. This can be done through low-stakes activities, such as discussion forums or role-playing exercises.
Feedback and scaffolding. Students need feedback on their participation in online arguments. This feedback can help them to improve their skills and to develop a deeper understanding of the topics that are being debated.
Strategies for Promoting Active Participation in Online Arguments

Here are some specific strategies that educators can use to promote active participation in online arguments:

Use asynchronous discussion forums. Asynchronous discussion forums allow students to participate at their own pace and to reflect on their responses before posting. This can help to create a more thoughtful and respectful discussion environment.
Pose open-ended questions. Open-ended questions require students to think critically and to develop their own arguments. They also invite different perspectives and encourage discussion.
Encourage students to build on each other's ideas. When students respond to each other's posts, they are able to build on each other's ideas and to develop more sophisticated arguments. Educators can encourage this behavior by asking students to respond to each other's posts and by highlighting examples of good discourse.
Provide feedback and scaffolding. Educators can provide feedback and scaffolding to students by commenting on their posts, asking clarifying questions, and suggesting resources. This can help students to improve their skills and to develop a deeper understanding of the topics that are being debated.

Creating an environment where online course participants can actively participate in a good argument requires careful planning and facilitation. In my opinion strategies include:

Clear Guidelines and Expectations:
Establish clear guidelines for respectful and constructive communication. Emphasize the importance of civility and listening to others' perspectives.
Communicate the expectations for active participation and how arguments should be framed within the context of the course.

Well-Defined Topics:
Choose topics for discussion that are relevant, interesting, and open to interpretation. Controversial topics often generate more engagement.

Moderator or Facilitator:
Assign a moderator or facilitator to guide discussions, maintain order, and intervene when necessary to steer conversations back on track or address inappropriate behavior.

Diverse Perspectives:
Encourage a diverse range of perspectives. Make it clear that different viewpoints are welcome and valued.

Ground Rules:
Establish ground rules for argumentation, such as avoiding personal attacks, using evidence to support claims, and focusing on the topic at hand.

Dear Team,
Thank you for your active participation in this discussion. Below is a summary of key points that emerged from the forum posts:
1. Have good knowledge of the subject being discussed so that you have well-defined topics
2. Grading the discussions with a rubric that will guide on what is required
3.Discussion forum environment that is supportive and inclusive, supports diverse perspectives and sets ground rules. Sometimes assign a facilitator or moderator among the learners
4.Clear instructions/ guidelines and expectations
5.Higher-level (application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation) rather than lower-level (knowledge and comprehension) discussion questions
6.Waiting before replying to a student so as to give others in class a chance to respond.
7.Where necessary address the student in private via email or personal messages on the LMS
8.Sometimes allow students to collect their thoughts and practice before engaging their peers for discussion.
9.Utilize groups, divide the class into discussion groups so as to reduce the cognitive load and increase discussion, this is because each student is required to make an original post and make replies to others
10.Let learners know that you're paying attention and care about what they contribute by turning their discussion topics into questions for further discussion
11.Responding to learners promptly and with questions where possible, doing affirmations and giving feedback, asking questions, and challenging my learners to think; where discussions are Lagging, I may be forced to re-frame the questions. this way my learners will participate and bring life to the discussions.

Note:
The grading criteria:
1. Relevance of the post (Makes strong connection to the topic under discussion) ((Excellent (40-36), Good (35-26), Fair (25-20), poor (0))
2. Quality of the post (Thoughtful, refelctive, respectful to others etc) ((Excellent (30-26), Good (25-20), Fair (19-10), poor (0-9))
3. Contribution to the learning community (Presents creative approaches to the topic) (Excellent (20-11), Good (10-4), Fair (5-1), poor (0))
4. Mechanics (free of gramatical, punctuation and spelling errors ) (Excellent (10-8), Good (7-6), Fair (5-3), poor (2-0))

In order to participate actively in an online discussion forum, the learner should have prior knowledge of the topic to be discussed. This can be done by giving the learners a task before hand to research on as they relate with their real life experiences