Once your discussions are created, there is still the effective facilitation of the discussion once students start participating. Just as discussions in a face-to-face course need management, online course discussions are not a spectator sport for instructors. Actively engage in your discussions by using these methods:

Set Expectations - In addition to a grading rubric, let students know the expectations you have regarding the style and tone of interactions to foster a respectful, safe space where students feel comfortable sharing.

Be Present - Make your presence known by replying to and interacting with students. This shows students you are reading what they are posting, which is motivating. You can also model the level and type of interaction you expect during discussions. This is especially important early on in the course.

Manage Behaviors - Encourage students to respond to each other. Ask deeper questions or present an opposing view. If you have students reluctant to participate, email them to encourage them and let them know of your expectations. On the flip-side, if there are certain students who tend to dominate the discussions, manage this type of behavior.

Summarize - Provide a summary for students at the end of each discussion. While you can type up the summary within the discussion, consider making it a video summary to increase that feeling of instructor presence. You can also ask a student to provide a summary after you model the behavior and expectations for a few posts. A summary pulls out the main points from the discussion, which helps with learning, but also provides closure for a discussion so students don't feel left hanging.