If you've been reading this blog, you know I love lists, especially when they contain accumulated wisdom from other instructors on how to manage different aspects of teaching and learning.  This one is about how to manage online discussions:

1. Ground the Learning in Real Experiences.
2. Motivate Through Discussion.
3. Use Synchronous Discussion.
4. Recommend Extra Stuff.
5. Use White Space.
6. Use the Book, But Don't Teach the Book.
7. Don't Always Reply.
8. Expect Tangents.
9. Ask Good Questions.
10. Pre-write.

Those are only the headings, which may or may not be self explanatory.  The author uses some great examples, BTW.  Looking at this list again, it seems to me an all-purpose list for teaching, not just online discusssions.

Garvey

J. Garvey Pyke, Ed.D. | Center for Teaching and Learning | UNC Charlotte