Online classroom discussions in criminal justice undergraduate studies are often the main area of the virtual classroom to engage in peer-to-peer learning and to participate in scholarly conversations about the course topics.

Online class discussions differ from a traditional classroom discussion in one main area, engagement. The online students must participate in the class discussion and cannot just witness the scholarly discussion unfold. The online student is forced to find their voice and engage with their peers and professor to be successful in the class.

Online Discussion Tips

• Stay active in the class and do not wait to the last-minute to post.
• Post early in the week to give others the opportunity to read and respond to your posting. Those who post late become passengers in their own learning journey.
• Do not just survive by doing the minimum amount of posting. Take ownership of your own learning and stay active.
• Make quality post that demonstrates your mastery of the topic and support your ideas with scholarly literature.
• If you have an opposing viewpoint, attack the message never your learning peer. Academic debate is respectful. Support your argument with scholarly literature to add credibility to your position.
• Connect with your learning peers in the class. You are on this learning journey together so share your experience and knowledge in a helpful way.
• Be a mature scholar and accept the feedback and suggestions to learn and grow.
• Properly prepare for the discussion by pre-reading the course material and using the online library academic databases to find your own answers.
• Respond to peers when they have a follow-up question and respond to your posting.
• When responding to others analyze the post and ask follow-up questions for clarity.
• Stay active and do not go MIA. If you do your grade is also MIA. Own it and be responsible for your participation.
• Respond with substance and do not just agree or not agree. Explain your position clearly.
• Respect opposing viewpoints and diversity of answers.
• Don’t plagiarize by cutting and pasting. Use your own original words and practice paraphrasing. Always give credit to the source/s that inspired your thinking on a topic. You were not born with this knowledge, so give credit.
• Most of all, enjoy and have fun while you learn in an online environment.

Online Discussion Netiquette

Netiquette is the respectful and correct way to communicate in the virtual platform.

Netiquette Tips:

• Don’t post or respond with all caps. In internet communication this means you are yelling.
• Don’t use social media abbreviations (LOL, WTF, etc.) Use a scholarly voice in your academic communication.
• Don’t make emotional postings. Think before you post to the entire class.
• Be responsible and accountable for your postings.

The Value of Distance Education

Distance education is a valuable and needed platform in higher education. The virtual classroom offers the opportunities to study and learn with students of different backgrounds and geographic locations. Distance education allows the student the opportunity to study when the time is most convenient. The online class discussions offer the opportunity to challenge preconceived assumptions if you stay open-minded about alternative solutions to solve problems.  

The key to success in any formal degree program is getting organized and using good time management. You want to show both quality and quantity in your postings to stay actively engaged and take ownership of your learning.

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