A central component of online learning, asynchronous discussions have the potential to positively impact distance learners in myriad ways. For discussion to be most impactful, best practices associated with online discussion should be implemented, yet discernment regarding such practices too often remains elusive or unimplemented. To address this…

There are differences in the benefits that are afforded by the two extremes of face-to-face and distance education. University campus courses are based on the assumption that the student community and interaction between learners and an expert teacher in the same physical location is essential to the learning process. In comparison, distance…