B6 - Participation

Attendance and participation are different in an online class (particularly an asynchronous one) but students need to understand how they will be evaluated and graded on participation when it's relevant. How lengthy/detailed should their discussion post be? How many replies to peers are they expected to make? How often are they expected to meet with their partner/group?

Guidelines for the quantity of participation might include a minimum word or paragraph count, frequency of posts and replies, expected contributions to group work, timeliness, etc. Guidelines covering quality might include recommendations for scope of analysis, depth of critical thinking, types of sources to be used, and other ideas to ensure cognitive involvement.

Include a description of expectations for student participation (both quantity and quality) regarding discussions, peer review, and/or collaborative projects. . .

• in your Syllabus or Orientation module
• within specific discussions/assignments
• using the Canvas rubric tool (this will speed up your grading as well!)

When appropriate, consider including an example discussion post/reply for students who would benefit from more guidance. 

Where to Look

These guidelines will likely be found in the syllabus, Orientation module, assignment instructions, and/or rubrics.

What to Look For

A clear explanation of expectations regarding both the quality and quantity of participation (particularly in interactive activities like discussions).