This webinar is part of the OLC Accelerate 2025 Best-in-Track webinar series!
Discussion boards have so much potential for creating meaningful engagement in online learning, but too often, they fall flat. They’re repetitive, surface-level, and feel more like a box to check than an opportunity for meaningful growth and real interaction.
This webinar will examine why discussion boards often miss the mark and, more importantly, how to make them better. We will explore common pitfalls as well as practical strategies and examples for designing reimagined discussion activities. We will showcase some of the examples and templates created during the workshop at the OLC Accelerate conference.
By the end of the webinar, you’ll walk away with practical examples and a fresh inspiration for designing discussion boards that are engaging and valuable for both students and instructors.
Intended Audience:
This webinar is perfect for educators, instructional designers, and administrators who want to make discussion boards a more engaging and meaningful part of online learning.
Key Takeaways:
- Rethink the purpose of discussion boards by identifying common design issues that limit participation and learning
- Consider how small design changes can improve the quality of student interaction
- Explore practical and creative strategies to facilitate engagement and dialogue
- Walk away with new discussion board activities
Please Note: While attending the webinar live is free for OLC members and non-members, on-demand recordings will be available post-webinar for Professional and Institutional Members only. Consider becoming an OLC member for access to these and many other great benefits!
Speaker Bio
Sean Nufer
Senior Director of Teaching and Learning – TCS Education System
Dr. Sean Nufer is an innovative educator with a passion for integrating technology into learning environments to enhance student engagement and success. Overseeing his institution’s office of teaching and learning, Sean specializes in designing and implementing professional development opportunities for faculty and course designers. With a background in business psychology and extensive experience in public speaking and teaching, Sean excels at making complex concepts accessible and engaging. His recent work emphasizes the use of generative AI and advanced pedagogical frameworks, such as UDL and SAMR, to create dynamic, inclusive educational experiences.
Veronica Estrada
Faculty Council Chair – Pasadena City College
Bio coming soon
Mark Labbett
Senior Instructional Designer – TCS Education System
Bio coming soon
Ruben Cortez
Professor – Pacific Oaks College
Bio coming soon