How to Prepare and Post in the Discussion Forum

The purpose of these discussion questions is to allow students to reflect on relevant theory topics, integrate knowledge learned, apply concepts to practice experience, articulate thoughts, and interact with peers regarding the topic at hand.

Please refer to the calendar of this course to review the discussion question due dates. In general, the following are typical due dates for discussions:

Post initial comment by Week X day 4 (Thursday)

Respond to 2 classmates by Week X day 7 (Sunday)

Complete D2L Discussion Question Participation Quiz by Week Y day 1 (Monday)

Refer to the D2L assignment and/or discussion area for the discussion questions.

Reflective, scholarly responses to the discussion questions are expected.  Students earn points based on their contributions to the web-based discussions.  Responses should be thoughtful and professional.

For each Discussion Question, students are expected to contribute initial comments and at least TWO quality responses to other student’s posting in the discussion center for the respective week.  More postings are encouraged if they help facilitate the discussion!

Address each component of the rubric below.

300 word minimum to achieve scholarly goals of the discussion forums (under tools in Word, a “word count” exists).

Answer all portions of the posted questions.  Postings should demonstrate synthesis, analysis, and integration of ideas from readings and other students’ discussion postings as related to the discussion topic.

Concisely and clearly state the main idea of the point that is being made.

Express only those points that are relevant to the question.

Reference any work that is not your original thought (include the author’s last name, date…include page number only if it is a quote).

Initial comments should be supported by at least two scholarly resources (cited in-text and at the end using APA reference style)

Use full sentences with correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar. You might want to compose your answer in a word processing program, then cut and paste your comments to the discussion board.

Be sure to check back on your original posting and reply to peers who have responded to your posting.

Interaction should build on ideas of other members and/or point out strengths and weaknesses of arguments.

Include classmates who have not already received a response from peers.

You might ask for clarification, respectfully disagree with, or expand on a point made by a fellow student.

Responses to others should be supported by at least one scholarly resource (cited in-text and at the end using APA reference style)

Discussion participation will assist you in forming your thoughts, exposing them to others, and receiving feedback from your classmates

After completing the above, go to the quiz section of D2L to self-evaluate your online discussion performance.  This must be completed by the due date listed in your course calendar and must be done to earn points for the Discussion Question.  The D2L Quiz will be based on the following rubric:

Note 1: If there is a discrepancy between your evaluation and the instructor’s evaluation of your performance, you will be notified.  The instructor reserves the right to over-ride your self-evaluation score to accurately reflect your performance.

Note 2:  If the student does not do the quiz by the due date, a zero will be noted in the gradebook. If within one week of due date, and the student contacts the instructor with request for partial points, then a max of 50% of points earned would be applied.

• Describe two things you learned about this theory from the reading
• Provide a brief critique of at least two of the following critique areas (clarity, simplicity, generality, empirical precision, derivable consequences)
• Considering your personal areas of interest, identify how this theory could be applied to nursing practice, research, or education. Specifically, explain how this nursing theory could apply to a particular nursing intervention/situation of your choosing (actual or hypothesized). The scenario may illustrate some aspect of nursing practice: direct nursing care, nursing administration, nursing research, or nursing education.

Describe two things you learned about this theory from the readings.

Provide a brief critique of at least two of the following critique areas (clarity, simplicity, generality, empirical precision, derivable consequences)

Considering your personal areas of interest, identify how this theory could be applied to nursing practice, research, or education. Specifically, explain how this nursing theory could apply to a particular nursing intervention/situation of your choosing (actual or hypothesized). The scenario may illustrate some aspect of nursing practice: direct nursing care, nursing administration, nursing research, or nursing education.

Discuss how the theories from other sciences (ethical, sociological, behavioral, developmental, biomedical, administration, learning, informatics, leadership, psychology, etc.) have advanced/inhibited the development of nursing science.

Explore how these outside theories/concepts can help us frame research, policy-making decisions, and use of health information technologies in the future.