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Communicating using discussion boards


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Discussion board tools facilitate one-to-many communication. This is likely where most of the course’s interaction takes place as they manage messages well for the entire class to view. Messages are posted to the board and are accessible by the entire class; the entire class is also capable of replying to each message. Instructors typically create a discussion category, post an initial message, then students reply to the message or to other students’ messages. In the online environment, this facilitates class or group discussions asynchronously, meaning members maintain the discussion by posting their messages at different times.

Laulima has two discussion board tools available, each with its own unique features and interface: "Discussion and Private Messages" and "Forums." Exploring each one will help you determine which works better for you in terms of interaction and its management. Click on the links to the left for more information on each tool.