Threaded discussion as a tool in the asynchronous technology classroom

Threaded discussion has the potential to be a very effective tool for learning online. However, it does not naturally fit well into engineering and science courses because of the factual nature of these domains. The authors' experience with this technique led us to be cautious in its use. Careful attention must be paid to topic selection and question design, instructor expectations of students, student personalities, and moderation of the actual discussion. This paper traces their experiences and concludes with recommendations for effective use of the technique.