Tips Ask students to state their expectations for the course. Some instructors require simple assignments to critique and share Websites on a particular topic or discipline. If you take the assignment a step further and require students to develop some deliverable where a group determines the critique score for each Web site - you will increase interaction and see more active learning. Pose the hard discussion questions requiring critical thinking and problem solving. Develop self-checking or mastery type quizzes to allow students to check their own understanding of the content. Ask students to teach a particular topic within the discipline to their peers. Encourage opinions supported by facts. Ask students to reflect on their own learning. Use simulations, case studies, role-plays, and real-life scenarios to prompt engagement with content. Use peer review. Develop shared writing assignments. Occasionally, quote student postings as a means of summarizing a discussion. Require students or groups to moderate discussion topics. Constantly encourage students.