4 Tips to Time Your Discussion Posts for Maximum Impact

As the old saying goes, “timing is everything.” This statement certainly rings true when it comes to facilitating discussion forums or more effectively using the course Wall. The right post at the right time can save a lot of frustration for participants and facilitators alike. If made too late in the week, an otherwise highly valued post can have little if any impact. Here we will share four tips that can save you time, delight your participants and, at a minimum, make your day as a facilitator go more smoothly.

Tip 1. Get ahead of likely areas of confusion.

As many of us know all too well, any course can have one or two topics that require more hand-holding. Preemptively addressing these confusing topics can save a lot of grief for participants and facilitators alike.

For instance, in an MIT Digital Business Strategy course, there is a Matrix of Change template that can be confusing to some participants. And the Matrix of Change is required for every assignment. In early presentations of the program, there would be long discussion threads, starting with a participant saying “I don’t understand….”, followed by numerous “me too” replies, and even some requests for in-person tutoring.

The facilitation team has been able to significantly reduce the number of these undesired comments and questions by sharing guidance on how to use the Matrix of Change template during the first week of asynchronous learning.

Best time to apply tip #1: Before a module with the more challenging content is released.

Tip 2. Check the first post in a new discussion topic, and reply quickly if needed.

Participants will often follow the format, tone, and length of the first response in a new discussion thread. But who usually responds first? Often it is a participant who is racing through the material quickly. Their reply may not fully consider the content of the module. It can also be short in length, or terse in language, revealing little about the participant’s personal insights or experience. Other participants see the first post as a template for their responses. If you see this happening, look for early opportunities to kindly reset expectations and get participants to open up and fully respond to the discussion prompt. Start with phrases like “What do you think about…” or “I would love to hear more about your thoughts on….”.

Best time to apply tip #2: Within a few hours of the release of a new module. Or within the first couple days for discussions that occur later in the module.

Tip 3. Make answering assignment-related questions a top priority.

A timely response to assignment-related questions can be worth its weight (or word count)  in gold, as it not only addresses the concerns of the participant who posted the question, but also helps others who likely have similar questions. Participants post their assignment-related questions when they are in the midst of working on their weekly projects, and would prefer to not wait a day (or longer) for a response. If you do check-in over the weekend, or over the long holiday break, the one topic to check first is assignment-related questions. Most likely, others will benefit from your response, and you will not start your Monday with a cascade of posts from participants bonding over their frustration over the same issues. You will likely get a note of appreciation from the original poster. You can also consider modifying your notification settings or subscribing to the assignment questions discussion topic so that you receive an email notification when new questions or comments are submitted, similar to receiving an @-tag in a general forum post.

Best time to apply tip #3: Before the weekend, and the days right before assignments are due.

Tip 4. Share your expertise after participants have had a chance to post their answers to the discussion prompt.

Your real-world expertise is highly valued by your course participants. After all, that is why you are here at 2U! It can be tempting to share your thoughts in response to a discussion prompt early in a discussion thread. However, consider giving your participants time to post their own ideas and interact with each other before influencing the discussion. The best discussion threads grow organically. And towards the end of the weekly module, share your expertise, insights and any applicable personal experience. Participants will most certainly appreciate your input.

Best time to apply tip #4: The last day of a module.

By following the four proactive tips that we have covered, you can spend less time responding to negative posts and more time diving into your course content. Enjoy the discussion!