Local community college online classes has that same mandatory writing something and responding 3 times. I really disliked it. Forcing that sort of thing with such specific requirements made it so the majority were talking without much care at all. I was the same as I don’t like the forced interaction. At least the way it was set up.
This is a common approach used in online courses. I taken both undergrad and grad courses which required it, and it doesn't really help raise the level of discourse. I don't like it for that reason. It comes across as "make work."
