Answer:
Participation in the discussion forums is critical for maximizing student learning in this course, both because your participation is graded and because it's a chance to engage in a dialogue about course material. In this course, students are required to be a part of an online community of learners who collectively interact, through discussion, to enhance and support the professional performance of each other. Part of the assessment criteria for the course includes evaluating the quality and quantity of your participation in the discussion forum.
The TAs will facilitate student discussions, although they likely will not address every single post. In most cases, they might share a related idea, intervene when the discussion goes off-track, or tie student comments together to help deepen student learning. Remember, if you have a specific question, pose it directly to Professor Faubion or the TAs--not on the discussion board.