Discussion Board Rubric: Discussion questions provide you a format to respond, expand, integrate, and reflect on your understanding of the module content. Expectations from the faculty include students will actively participate in discussion to share and gain new insights, critique ideas, and to pursue the goal of constructing new knowledge.

Discussion Rubric Criteria

Example

Points Possible

INITIAL POSTING:
Incorporated knowledge of readings and material within the response, contributed a substantive posting that demonstrated cognitive reflection, critical thinking and understanding of the subject matter.

Ideas examine topic from new perspective that contributes to group understanding of topic.

Initial post: At least100 words in length

Postings offered substantial, well written contributions and opinions, observations, questions, experiences, critiques, and/or suggestions.

Reflects a reference from the required readings or outside readings, and/or personal experiences related to the question.

Met criteria for length of response.

5

RESPONSE POSTING: 
Responded to at least two other class members with substantial details that reflects critical thinking.

Response: At least 100 words in length

Posting to classmate either agrees or disagrees with classmate and provides evidence in support of the response.

Posting is constructive and contributes to the discussion.

All questions/comments posed from classmates were appropriately addressed.

Meets criteria for length of response.

3

MECHANICS: Posting submissions exhibit appropriate, using proper language, cordiality, grammar, punctuation of college level writing.

Post follows use of APA guidelines including in-text citations and references. = Earns 1 point

No grammar or spelling errors in answer = Earns 1 Point

Three or more formatting, grammar and/or spelling errors in answer = 0 Points

2

TOTAL POINTS POTENTIALLY EARNED

One point will be deducted each day for late submissions and no submissions accepted after Saturday midnight; week of post due date.

10

The Greek Poet, Aeschylus (523-456 BCE), wrote that ?to learn is to suffer.?  He went on to comment that in time, suffering comes to have meaning through our own processing of the experience, giving us understanding and wisdom.  So has your journey of suffering begun. 

For resilience, one must find ways to reduce the burden of stress.  Self-care (physical, social, psychological and spiritual engagement), reflexivity (coming to know one?s strengths, development opportunities, and biases), integrity (recognizing and validating one’s moral compass for right and wrong guided by personal and professional codes of ethics), and comradery (nurturing and maintaining professional and personal associations and friendships with colleagues and classmates) are all ways in which we nourish ourselves, enrich our journey and deepen our commitment to success. 

For this last discussion assignment, consider the following ways to address stress, described above:

• Self-care plan
• Reflexivity in learning
• Self-identification with integrity
• Comradery amongst classmates

Share with your classmates how you will manage your stress using one of these four stress management strategies in the coming months as you progress through the program.  Be specific.  Include your reasoning (evidence from your textbook and/or other sources) to support your plan.

 In your responsive posts, include your agreement or disagreement with the plan and evidence presented to you.  Support your critique with evidence from the literature (textbook and/or other sources).

As usual, submit your own, original work, abiding by APA formatting for citations and references.