Experience has shown that unless you grade your online discussions, many students will not participate in them. However, a grade alone lacks the sort of flexibility and rich qualitative aspects of instructor feedback in online discussions. To give students just an absolute measure of progress, you need to offer them a qualitative set of assessment criteria. The following sections will assist you in defining the level and type of participation expected in online discussions, which will give students guidelines for determining the areas they are doing well in, and the ones that need improvement:

1. Assessment Criteria
2. Blackboard Discussion Board Controls
3. Blackboard Assessment Tools