Discussion Forum Participation Rubric

Participation in the discussion forums is critical for maximizing your learning experiences in this course. You are required to be part of an online community who interact, through discussion, to enhance and support the professional development of the group. Part of the assessment criteria for the course includes assessing the quality and quantity of your participation in the discussion forum.

Some characteristics we consider to be part of excellent discussion contributions are outlined below. Your facilitator will consider these characteristics when assessing the quality and level of your participation.

You should submit your initial post(s) early in the session, and your subsequent responses to the posts of other learners at timely intervals within the duration of the session. Keep in mind the goal is to have a dynamic discussion that lasts throughout the entire session.
Your posts and responses should be thorough and thoughtful. Just posting an "I agree" or "Good ideas" will not be considered adequate. Support your statements with examples, experiences, or references. You are, however, encouraged to be brief — keep each post and response to one or two short paragraphs. Keep in mind that your fellow learners will be reading and responding to you, too.
Make certain to address the discussion prompt(s). This does not mean you should not extend the topic, but do not stray from the topic.
Discussions occur when there is dialogue. So, build upon the posts and responses of other learners to create discussion threads. Make sure you revisit the discussion forum and respond (if necessary) to what other learners have posted to your initial responses.
When relevant, add to the discussion by including prior knowledge, work experiences, references, Web sites, resources, etc. (giving credit when appropriate).
Your contributions to the discussions (posts and responses) should be complete and free of grammatical or structural errors.

This rubric point scale will be used to assess your work based on a 100 point scale that is cumulative throughout each session.

	Unsatisfactory	Satisfactory	Exemplary
	20/50 points	35/50 points	50/50 points
1st Visit: Initial Post (1 post)	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Does not create an initial post. And/or does not submit early in the session.	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Creates an initial post.	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Creates an initial post. Submits early in the session.
	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Post does not demonstrate evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Post demonstrates some evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Post demonstrates clear evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.
	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Post is not applicable to professional practice.	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Post is applicable to professional practice.	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Post is applicable to professional practice.
	5/15 points	10/15 points	15/15 points
Note: A reply is made in visits 2, 3, or 4 by using the 'reply' or 'add a new discussion topic' functions. Learners may earn the extra five points described in the Exemplary column of 3rd & 4th Visit in any message submitted after the Initial Post (1st Visit).
2nd Visit: Reply to Other Learner(s) (1 post early in the session)	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Does not reply to another learner. And/or does not submit the reply early in the session.	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Replies to another learner.	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Replies to another learner. Submits early in the session.
	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Response does not demonstrate evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Response demonstrates some evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Response demonstrates clear evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.
	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Response is not applicable to professional practice.	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Response is applicable to professional practice.	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Response is applicable to professional practice. Response elicits responses and reflection for others.
	5/15 points	10/15 points	15/15 points
3rd and 4th Visit: Reply to Other Learner(s) (2 posts later in the session)	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Does not reply to a second learner. And/or does not submit the reply before the end of the session.	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Replies to a second learner.	Criteria: Quantity and timeliness Replies to a second learner. Continues to participate in discussion threads until the end of the session.
	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Response does not demonstrate evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Response demonstrates some evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.	Criteria: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and applicability to professional practice Response demonstrates clear evidence of knowledge and understanding of course materials and content.
	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Response is not applicable to professional practice.	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Response is applicable to professional practice	Criteria: Generates learning within the community Response is applicable to professional practice. Response elicits responses and reflection for others. Response integrates multiple views or provides outside resources from others to take the discussion deeper. (+5 pts- once per discussion which will be added to the 3rd or 4th visit score)