The life and times of an online discussion

Teaching online and facilitating effective discussion with students requires adapting existing patterns of traditional classroom discussion techniques. This paper examines the life and times of a number of online discussions in both graduate and undergraduate papers for eduction students at the University of Waikato. Key features examined include the creation of an effective online environment model, the level and type of participation, along with modes of effective discussion assessment. The impact and development of the conversational style software environment that includes pictures of the participants has proved to be a critical aspect of discussion development and innovation.