General Posting Guidelines for College Students
The concept of “Posting” is simply a way to dialogue in an on-line setting. It’s like sophisticated “blogging. It is informed, relevant information that is being shared for educational purposes. Meaning, it helps students understand the relevance of concepts.
Full Forum Presence – Interacting throughout the week instead of attempting to cram all your posting into the end of the week or in a day or two.
Thread – Another way of speaking of an ongoing interactive post on a given topic or specific question.
Critical thinking – An intelligent dept of constructive, seminal thought and discussion on the topics/questions evidenced in your posts.
Dialogue – is conveyed via “posting” in a pre-assigned forum. A forum provides the frame for posed questions in dialogue. Two or more students participate either as individuals or as a group in response to their assigned questions as provided by the instructor for that forum.
Responses are generated in the form of “Point” and “Counterpoint” scenarios. They are expanded below:
Point – A scholarly appraisal of ideas that are communicated as you understand the subject matter. When making a point, always read and evaluate what the author on the topic meant. Does your point begin with an issue, a problem or question? Do you resolve it in your statement? Is your foundation sound? Is it supported by credible research? Are you consistent in your presentation of facts and substantive thought? Is there anything missing that could enhance your communication? Challenge ideas only as a means to clarification when appropriate. However, if you understand and agree with the idea there is no need to challenge it.
Counterpoint – is your opportunity to constructively critique the work of your peers. Scholars write with an expectation that other scholars will critically engage their writing. Remember, what you have to offer should reflect a “biblical worldview” (see definition below) that will bring others closer to total truth. This in turn helps to develop societies as our Creator so intended. However, this does not mean that you will necessarily use scripture or began preaching in your counterpoint. Stay with the subject matter and write appropriately about it.
Your critique should be executed with courtesy with no intention to harm your peers. Something significant could come from your comments as well as others for future changes in society.
Remember to be as seminal with your comments as possible. The purpose of counter-pointing in posts is to forward the understanding of the subject matter. Merely repeating what your colleague stated only stagnates the discussion. Also, it is not necessary to respond on behalf of another. That is, do not take offense for them. This only creates an unproductive discussion.
Biblical worldview – This view sees the natural realm as a part of the spiritual realm – That there is interaction between the two realms is an understood truth:
II Corinthians 13-15 – For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Hebrews 13:2 – Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Types of Forums
Open- Forum – This forum is used for general discussions of readings for “point” and “counterpoint” responses in posting. Your instructor may or may not designate a particular length of words in dialoguing.
Two-Sided Debate – This forum attempts to draw out and develop the ability to politely engage the strengths and weaknesses of your position on the subject matter. Your instructor will appoint you to one side of the debate or another. This type of forum can enrich your research skills, content knowledge, preparation methodologies, reflective listening, small group abilities, and scholarly endurance.
Remember that your debate is about external arguments constructed by other scholars, not about you personally so do not internalized your arguments in your responses.
***Group appointments for debates, etc. will be set-up by each instructor or moderator for individual forums or classes.
Moderator – The appointed overseer for any given forum for the purpose of insuring a fruitful discussion for the duration of the forum.
Forum Time Frames
Each forum will remain open for a set time frame as designated by the instructor for the course. Time frames are important for balancing course work loads and to encourage concise writing with the minimum time commitment. It is the instructor’s prerogative to decide whether early or late papers will be graded.
Other Forum Guidelines
Do not upload information for your peers to read. Only use reference information. Too much information insures less of your responses read.
All sources cited in your dialogue should have a reference at the end of the cited material.
Forums are not blogs, face book, twitter, or any other social communication. Neither are they to be used for prayer requesting or praying for others, prophesying, preaching, personal life issues, or any other topics or contexts not relevant to your course.
It is much less stressful to first compose your posts in a word document and then import it to the forum discussion than to attempt to construct it in the actual forum window. This allows for sufficient time of both composing and correcting errors or changing your composition. It also prevents loss of material if your window times-out while you are still composing your posts.
