We will look at some strategies for engaging students with online discussions. These strategies will be applicable both to online and web enhanced courses that make use of discussion forums. After reviewing best practices and supporting materials, participants will have the opportunity to review and “fix” several example discussions to try out these strategies.

It is expected that attendees will leave with some strategies aid in crafting engaging discussions, but also pedagogy tools to help ensure that discussions focus on desired outcomes, and some guidance on how discussions can be scaffolded throughout a course to lead toward higher level learning and thinking skills in students.