Guidelines for Online Participation*

For my students:
Questions will be posed to guide your participation in course conversations or discussions under an UVLe Forum. They will be available on UVLe for a definite period (usually 1 week). Only responses posted in the appropriate section by the deadline for the week will be counted for credit. Your postings on the UVLe Forum will be graded using the following scale with its attendant expectations:

"1” Discussion (90-100): Distinguished/Outstanding
A student earning a "1” for discussion activities has participated 3 or more times during the week and has posted outstanding knowledge and insight.

"1” discussion postings:
  • are made in time for others to read and respond
  • deliver well thought-out, insightful, critical discussions
  • make connections to previous or current content or to real-life situations
  • contain rich, fully developed ideas, connections, or applications
"2” Discussion (80-89): Proficient
Students earning a "2” for discussion activities have participated at least 2 times during the week and have posted proficient knowledge.

"2” discussion postings:
  • are made in time for others to read and respond
  • deliver thought, insight,  analysis 
  • make connections to previous or current content or to real-life situations, but the connections are not really clear or are too obvious
  • contain new ideas, connections, or applications, but they may lack depth or details
"3” Discussion (70-79): Basic
Students earning a "3” for discussion activities have participated at least 1 time during the week and have posted basic knowledge.

"3” discussion postings:
  • may not be in time for others to read and respond
  • are generally competent, but seem thin and commonplace
  • make limited, if any, connections, and those are often cast in the form of vague generalities
  • contain few, if any, new ideas or applications; often are a rehashing or summary of other comments
"4-5” Discussion (10-69): Below Expectations
Students earning a "4-5” for discussion activities have participated at least 1 time during the week and have posted knowledge that was below expectations.

"4-5” discussion postings:
  • may not all be made in time for others to read and respond
  • are rudimentary and superficial; there is no evidence of insight or analysis
  • contribute no new ideas, connections, or applications
  • may be completely off topic  
No participation in the online discussion activity will have zero grade for that activity.

-----------
* Based on Bluebirds (2006). "Online Discussion.” URL (retrieved 22 July 2011): http://ndwild.psych.und.nodak.edu/idt510/projects06/BlueBirds/