Messaging Boards into College Graduation

1. Main Questions to consider

1.1. What are the benefits of using an online messaging board, or forum?

1.2. What are the Disadvantages of using an online messaging board, or forum?

1.3. How can message boards improve academic standings and help improve the retention rate in college?

1.4. What are some ways message boards help engage students to keep their attention and keep them interested?

2. Message boards in the online classroom are an effective way of engaging students and improving their academic standings.

3. References

3.1. Addo, Darcey. "Correlations Between Online Courses and Student Retention." Classroom Synonym. Demand Media, 10 Jan. 2014. Web. 20 July 2015. <http://classroom.synonym.com/correlations-between-online-courses-student-retention-2326.html>.

3.2. Morrison, Debbie. "How to Promote Critical Thinking with Online Discussion Forums." Online Learning Insights. Word Press, 1 Oct. 2013. Web. 18 Aug. 2015. <https://onlinelearninginsights.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/how-to-promote-critical-thinking-with-online-discussion-forums/>

3.3. "Benefits of Using Discussion Boards in Your Classes." Academic Technology Center Teaching with Technology Collaboratory. Academic Technology Center, 8 May 2008. Web. 20 July 2015. <https://www.wpi.edu/Academics/ATC/Collaboratory/Idea/boardbenefits.html>

3.4. Forums in the Classroom; Enhancing Student Learning & Engagement. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2015, from https://www.proboards.com/free-forum-articles/forums-in-the-classroom

4. Important facts to consider

4.1. Students who take a college class online are up to 20 percent less likely to complete it than their counterparts in a brick and mortar environment.

4.2. Online message boards help improve critical thinking that helps with retention.

4.3. Students who use message boards are develop better relationships with each other than students in a face to face invironment

5. Main Topics

5.1. Benefits and Disadvantages of Message Boards

5.2. A look at retention rates of "brick and Mortar" classrooms, online classrooms, and how message boards can help with getting students to graduation

5.3. Strategies using Message Boards, and how to keep students engaged.