The instructor should monitor discussions in an online environment. Guidelines must first be provided and then the instructor must monitor the discussion to assess the direction and content. Without this monitoring, there is a risk of minimal discussion or too much unfocused discussion.
An online instructor should become a "guide on the side." The instructor should refrain from posting immediate answers to the discussion board; refrain from stating immediately whether answers are right or wrong; avoid posting too much, too often; and facilitate the sharing of ideas and opinions.
