Nowadays, in plenty of online Math classes, students are required to publish discussion posts. So far, I’d say about 1/3 of our clients have asked us to assist them with discussion posts in their online classes. The subjects have varied from Algebra to Trigonometry to Calculus.
In this blog post, I will address some common questions about discussion posts in online Math classes. I will use an FAQ format to express my thoughts…
What is a discussion post in an online Math class?
A discussion post is an answer to a question (asked by the professor) to all the students. The discussion is presented like a “thread” on message board or forum such as reddit. The students’ responses are expected to be at least 100 words and each student is normally expected to respond to at least one of their peers. There are many variations to this, however: I’ve had discussions that required longer answers, or that did NOT require me to engage my peers
Discussion posts tend to be in one of 2 categories: solution to problem/exercise or an mini composition (1-2 paragraphs) demonstrating a solid understanding of a concept that was recently covered in the course.
What portion of student’s grade do discussion posts comprise?
Discussion posts tend not to count for that much of a student’s overall grade, usually 10% or less.
Are discussion posts for online Math classes difficult to write?
Discussion posts tend to be pretty simple, especially compared to exercises/problems, quizzes, and exams. To date, I wouldn’t say that any of the discussion posts I’ve written were that difficult. In fact, if you read our Pricing page you’ll notice that discussion posts are the cheapest. This is because of their comparative simplicity
Do you have a favorable (or unfavorable) opinion of discussion posts?
Overall, I have a favorable opinion. Not just because it gives me more work, but because if done right it gives students another way to understand a subject. It serves a substitute for in-person interaction and discussion
If you’re taking an online Math class that has a discussion component, feel free to contact us. We’ll be happy to take care of all the discussion posts in your class.
