Discussion is vitally important in the English classroom, be it virtual or traditional brick and mortar. When students discuss a poem, short story, passage, or novel, they learn from their classmates and have an opportunity to share the knowledge that they themselves have acquired. Because students tend to be concerned more by the opinions of their peers than they are by the opinions of the adults around them, a discussion assignment such as a Socratic Seminar can motivate the student to produce his best work or his best thoughts. The purpose of the classroom discussion in an English class is not solely to investigate literature, however, but it is also to encourage students to think critically and to practice communication skills.
When the instructor of a virtual classroom gives a discussion assignment, it's imperative that the teacher be present within the discussion to moderate, keeps students' ideas focused, and provide useful feedback. By following the best practices of moderating online discussions--responding to the first thread, identifying key selections of text, integrating audio, and supplying students with supplemental materials for further research--the instructor can ensure that the assignment is productive and effective. The instructor's presence is necessary. Should the instructor be absent from the thread, the discussion may go off topic or students may feel that the assignment is less important than others.
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