Considerations on Online Discussion Boards in Higher Education Courses

Abstract

Abstract: Current educational environment reflects an increasing preference for online instruction and related technologies which became routine practices within higher education institutions. The latest studies report that in 2018 online education enrollments increased for the fourteenth straight year, and especially in 2017 and 2018 they have been growing faster than they have for the past several years. In this favorable context for online courses, higher- education institutions are engaging more and more in methods to assure and assess the quality of the education offered. However, there are concerns regarding the nature and extent of the interaction and its effects on student performance. This article aims at referring to the literature available on the topic and at addressing the issues of quality and challenges of online courses, particularly regarding the online communication – discussion boards.