Effective Online Discussion Questions (2024)

FAQs

How do you write a good online discussion question? ›

Start with Open-Ended Questions – these types of questions help begin a discussion because they encourage multiple viewpoints. They also tend to invite students to share their opinions, which can generate additional topics or define crucial issues.

Avoid closed-ended questions, such as those that ask students to list characteristics, define terms, explain concepts, or recall facts. Once the correct answer has been given, there isn't much more to say, so the discussion fizzles out. Instead, create open-ended questions that don't have a right or wrong answer.

An example may be 'Discuss neural mechanisms in aggression'. Disuss questions should always start with describing something e.g. in this case, you would start by giving a brief overview (description) of the role of serotonin and the amygdala in aggression.

In order for a discussion to be effective, students need to understand the value of actively listening to their peers, tolerating opposing viewpoints, and being open-minded. They also need to recognize the importance of staying focused and expressing themselves clearly.

Normally questions are higher-order as you move along these question words: What?, Where?, Who?, Why?, and How?; and then these verbs: Is…, Did…, Can…, Will…, and Might…

How do you write an open-ended discussion question? ›

Open-ended questions begin with the following words: why, how, what, describe, tell me about..., or what do you think about... 3. Use open-ended questions as follow ups for other questions. These follow ups can be asked after open or closed-ended questions.

It encourages students to reflect deeply, appreciate differences, and take responsibility for their opinions . Overall, the discussion method enhances students' learning outcomes, including the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and actively participate in the learning process .

Use conversation starters: If you're not sure what to talk about, you can use some prompts or icebreakers to spark a discussion. For example, you can share a fun fact, a personal anecdote, a quote, or a joke. You can also comment on something relevant to the topic, such as a news article, a video, or a podcast.

Social networking: Sites like Quora and reddit have turned forums into giant social media companies devoted to questions and answers. Reddit has 55 million daily users in its forums.