Fifteen of your peers in a classroom are having a collaborative conversation about a topic such as the historical perspective of nurse practitioners. Students would prepare for the discussion by reading the assigned textbook chapters and research articles. Once in the classroom together, students would have their DeNisco textbooks open while they watched the video on Nurse Practitioners (NP) and then the class would have an open discussion about the different NP styles they read about. One student might bring up how NPs practice in their workplace and relate it to the video and readings. One student might talk about their own NP style and how it is aligned with a few of the styles. Another student might share an additional article about NPs and how it relates to what they had learned. After students share their thoughts, students and the instructor might ask additional questions to further explore practicing as NPs.
The group conversation is built upon the course materials that the whole class has read and synthesized on their own. This allows everyone to build their discussion post on the same readings. Each student has the opportunity to bring additional sources of information to the group to further the group’s understanding, but the initial framework of the discussion is based on the course materials. Reading other’s posts and responding provides an opportunity for deeper understanding.
Since online students engage in the discussion at different times, it does not feel like a traditional classroom discussion, but similar principles apply. We hope this helps clarify how online discussions function like classroom conversations
These guidelines apply to all online graduate nursing discussion boards. Use this opportunity to engage in a cohesive peer group to express your insight on the topic. This will create robust discussions, help you get to know your peers, and start lifelong learning collaborations.
