Don’t put in a discussion without a clear idea of its purpose. Make it relevant and interesting, key to developing a Sense of Belonging. We’ve already suggested using personal stories at the start of the module. Maintaining the interest in discussion fora requires just as much thought. The students are now familiar with the mechanics and know what to expect tutor-wise. But the novelty has worn off. Your level of passion will be reflected by the students. If they see a drop in interest from you they’re likely to themselves drop their interest levels. Think about the Sense of Belonging you want to tap into. Is it just about the module or programme? Is there something bigger you can tap into?

Example: Rachel ran a module on forensics. She decided one week to ask the students to count the number of different types of knives in their kitchens. She has already told them about her work in forensics, and tells them this will be used in her research. Her students are inspired and happily feed back the information. They even share photographs, and discuss the implications of their findings to domestic safety and violence in the discussion forum. In their evaluation they highlight this activity as one that led not only to feeling part of that module but also of the wider research community.