/
Creating Discussion Topics for an Online Course Using Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI)

Creating Discussion Topics for an Online Course Using Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI)

Online discussion forums foster student engagement, critical thinking, and a sense of community among students in online learning environments. Crafting stimulating and relevant discussion prompts takes time. Gen AI tools can assist with brainstorming and refining discussion prompts. By inputting course topics, learning objectives, or even challenging concepts, faculty can prompt Gen AI to generate a range of discussion questions.

Creating New Discussion Prompts

You provide the AI with the background of an expert, essentially telling it to act like one. You then give the AI instructions about the context of your discussion (topic, complexity, audience, etc.). Based on this, the AI will generate initial discussion prompt ideas, which you can then discuss further with the AI to refine.

If creating a new discussion prompt to create new discussion board questions for your online course, try adding this prompt to Gemini:

Prompt: You are an expert curriculum designer, particularly skilled in helping professors create topics for asynchronous online class discussions that result in profound discussions between the students.

Your task is to generate a list of discussion topics for my introductory English class on their favorite books with a medium complexity level.

(Adapt the prompt for your class, the topic, and your preferred complexity level.)

Gemini: Ah, diving into the wonderful world of favorite books! That's a fantastic way to kick off an introductory English class and spark some engaging discussions. Here are a few asynchronous discussion topics with a medium complexity level, designed to encourage students to delve a bit deeper than just saying "I liked it":

  1. **The Enduring Resonance:** Choose one element of your favorite book (a specific character, a particular theme, a recurring symbol, or a unique aspect of the narrative structure). Discuss why you think this element has stayed with you and what it reveals about the book's overall message or impact. Consider why this element might resonate with other readers as well, even if their overall experience with the book differs from yours.

  2. **Beyond the Plot:** While the plot of a story often draws us in, great books often offer much more. Identify one aspect of your favorite book *beyond* the main plotline that you found particularly compelling or thought-provoking. This could be the author's writing style, the development of a minor character, the setting as a character in itself, or the exploration of a subtle idea. Explain why this element stood out to you and how it enriched your understanding or appreciation of the book.

  3. **The Lens of Time (or Perspective):** If you first read your favorite book some time ago, reflect on how your understanding or appreciation of it has changed (or stayed the same) over time. What did you notice or value then that you might see differently now? Alternatively, if you encountered this book more recently, consider how someone with a different background, age, or life experience might interpret it.

  4. **Connecting with Other Worlds:** Often, our favorite books create worlds or present perspectives that are different from our own. Discuss how your chosen book allowed you to connect with experiences, cultures, or ideas that might be unfamiliar to you. What did you learn or gain from engaging with this different world or viewpoint? Did it challenge any of your assumptions or broaden your understanding in any way?

  5. **The "Why This One?":** There are countless books out there. What is it about *this specific book* that makes it your favorite? Dig beyond simple enjoyment. What need or desire did it fulfill for you as a reader? Did it offer comfort, challenge, inspiration, a sense of understanding, or something else entirely? Explore the deeper connection you have with this particular story.

These topics encourage personal reflection, analytical thinking, and engagement with broader literary concepts without being overly academic or requiring extensive prior knowledge. They also provide ample opportunity for students to respond to each other's posts and build upon their insights.

Let me know if you'd like some variations on these or perhaps some ideas that lean slightly more towards analysis of specific literary devices!

Updating Existing Discussion Prompt

The "question refinement" pattern is helpful when you can provide the AI with a discussion question you have already created. The AI can then help you make it more engaging, clearer, or more likely to spark deeper conversation.

If starting with existing discussion prompts that you want to improve, try: 

Prompt: I will provide an asynchronous discussion prompt for my online college class. You have high expertise as an instructional designer for online courses. Suggest a better version of the question so the discussion will be more engaging. Then ask if I want to refine it further. Ask me for the first prompt to refine.

Gemini: Excellent! I'm ready to help you craft a more engaging discussion prompt. Please share the first prompt you have in mind. I'll analyze it and suggest a revised version that aims to spark deeper and more interactive discussions among your students.

Prompt: While the plot of a story often draws us in, great books often offer much more. Identify one aspect of your favorite book *beyond* the main plotline that you found particularly compelling or thought-provoking. This could be the author's writing style, the development of a minor character, the setting as a character in itself, or the exploration of a subtle idea. Explain why this element stood out to you and how it enriched your understanding or appreciation of the book.

Gemini: That's a solid starting point! It encourages students to look beyond the surface narrative. However, to make it even more engaging and foster more direct interaction, consider this revised version:

**Revised Prompt:**

Think about your favorite book. We all know the main story, but what *single element* beyond the central plot truly captivated you or made you think deeply? This could be anything from the author's unique way of using language, the unexpected depth of a character who wasn't a main player, how the setting felt like a living, breathing part of the story, or a subtle idea woven throughout the narrative.

**Here's the engaging twist:** After you share the element that stood out to you and *why*, **connect your observation to at least one specific passage or moment in the book.** Quote or briefly describe this moment and explain how it illustrates the element you're discussing and its impact on you.

**Then, actively engage with at least two classmates' posts.** Instead of just saying "I agree," try to build on their observation. Did you notice the same element in a different way? Did their example illuminate something new for you about that element or the book as a whole?

**Why this is potentially more engaging:**

  • **Specificity:** Asking for a specific passage grounds the discussion in textual evidence and encourages closer reading.

  • **Connection:** Linking the element to a concrete example makes the analysis more tangible and less abstract.

  • **Active Engagement:** The prompt explicitly directs students to build upon each other's ideas with more than just agreement, fostering a more dynamic conversation.

What do you think of this revised prompt? Would you like to refine it further, perhaps by focusing on a specific aspect of literary analysis or adding another layer of interaction?

 

Explore more ideas for using AI at AI for Education’s GenAI Chatbot Prompt Library for Educators.