Advantages & Disadvantages Of Online Discussions
Online discussions can be greatly beneficial to student learning and are often one of the first things lecturers consider when moving elements of their courses and modules online as part of a blended learning strategy.
Online discussions need careful planning if they are to be successful, but as a precursor you might like to consider the advantages and disadvantages of online discussions.
·         Advantages
·         Students can participate at a time and place that suits them.
·         The act of typing forces students to take time and contribute more developed ideas.
·         Can reduce the amount of time the teacher has to give to telephone and face-to-face meetings and time in the office.
·         Shy students get more of a chance to have a say.
·         Encourages reflection and deeper thinking.
·         Foreign students have more time to compose their thoughts.
·         Peer-peer learning encouraged.
·         Answers are seen by all.
·         Forms a basis for creating FAQs.
·         Expert thinking about a topic can be modeled and learnt.
·         Encourages big picture thinking.
·         Effective and efficient means to make whole class communication.
·         Disadvantages
·         Those with poor writing skills are disadvantaged.
·         Lack of facial cues can lead to misunderstanding.
·         Discussions can go off topic.
·         Some students tend to too readily agree with others or paraphrase others’ contributions.
·         Students can tend to respond to topics in an overall fashion rather than in detailed specifics.
·         Students lose motivation to participate unless they perceive ‘value’ in the discussion.
·         Requires consistent input from teacher.
·         Lag between posts can make following a discussion difficult.
·         Technical problems (server crashes, network down time, etc).
·         Lack of access to computer or network handicaps some students.
·         Reading and thinking overload.
·         Needs to be moderated and monitored for inappropriate postings.