Science forum sparks student reaction

By: Amelia Ley

Posted: 11/19/09

Students in Alexander Konopelko's physical science classes have been busy posting about topics ranging from Atlantis, a legendary island in the Atlantic Ocean, to genetic engineering.
The discussion forum about Atlantis is based on Konopelko's question, "Did Atlantis ever exist?"
Overall, students upheld the belief that it did.
However, Cameron Leslie, senior in early/late childhood development, had an alternate view of Atlantis.
"Atlantis could have been Plato's way of describing what he thought would have been a utopian city," Leslie posted.
Interacting with all of the students in general education classes can be challenging, says Konopelko.
That's why he uses discussion forums. He posts a problem on ANGEL and students from his classes can respond with their opinions.
Konopelko chooses the problems that he posts from material being covered in the course.
Participation in discussion forums is not required. However, Konopelko considers it extra credit.
Forums should be used for only large, general education classes, Konopelko says.
"I wouldn't use a discussion forum for a small class because, in principle, you could talk to all of the students," he said.
Students' response to the forums has been good, he says.
But back to the Atlantis forum: One of the students who firmly believed it existed was Dustin Meyer, junior in plastics engineering.
"I was researching it, and approximately 3,500 years ago there were a series of earthquakes and volcanoes that are believed to have destroyed Atlantis," he said. "Volcanic rocks and other stones have been discovered over the years."
Meyer says he likes discussion forums because they are an easy grade and it helps to see what other students think.
"They should probably be required," he said.
Leslie has a different opinion. He has used discussion forums in other classes and does not like them.
"It is a waste of time and busy work," he said.
All of the questions asked on discussion forums can be asked and answered in class as an open discussion, Leslie says.
He chooses to participate in forums in order to get extra credit.
"If the discussion board was only to have a conversation about a subject, I probably would not pay any attention to it," Leslie said.
Another problem with discussion forums is that some people do not put forth effort, Leslie says.
"I do not go through and read everyone's comments on a topic, especially when 90 percent of the students have the same idea or thought," he said. "Everyone's comments do not change my mind or help me come to a conclusion about a subject."
Leslie says he would not enjoy it if more classes began using forums.
"I usually get them done five minutes before, or I do them right after class so I do not have to worry about them," he said. "They just seem like something that is in my way of doing actual work."
He says he would rather write an essay about the question being addressed on the forum.
However, Leslie did say that discussion boards offer some benefits.
"People can share information, think about the question and give a deeper response," he said. "They are also a good way for students to evaluate what they think of the subject and come up with conclusions about what the subject is about."
He also says he has enjoyed some of the physical science class topics.
"There are questions that talk about philosophy, such as human cloning, and it's great to be able to give my input about that particular subject," he said.
The discussion forum that addressed human cloning was titled "Genetic Engineering."
Bryan Whitney, freshman in political science, posted that genetic engineering is problematic.
"Take a good long look at the animals we have somewhat genetically altered. Yes they may render more food, but they have a laundry list of problems," he said. "If you believe strongly in the use of genetic engineering, I advise you to go investigate the byproducts of our current ability with it."
Whitney says the discussion forums are interesting, but they are not the highlight of his day.
One of the problems with the discussion forums is that people don't read the articles, but they make opinions, he said.
"Pretty much anything goes because it is a discussion," he said.
Whitney participates in the forums to receive extra credit.
Dustin Prince, junior in elementary education, says he also participates because of extra credit.
He says he likes the forums because they are an interesting way to see what the other students have to say about certain topics.
On the other hand, the discussions are time consuming and not worth a lot of credit, and sometimes students don't take them seriously.
"They put information on there that is either not correct or isn't well thought out," Prince said.