Helping the students get started in their group activities online is an important first
step in ensuring success. As they start to discuss online, drop into their discussions to
provide focus to the discussion or to draw attention to particular concepts or
information that is necessary to frame or pursue knowledge growth. This is also
important in terms of helping the students to see that the key to success lies as much
in the process of discussion, as it does in the product. Encourage them to draw on
previous knowledge and experiences and respond to others' comments directly as they
think critically about the discussion questions.