ERIC Number: EJ1111508
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Nov
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2357
EISSN: N/A
Rethinking Online Discourse: Improving Learning through Discussions in the Online Classroom
Johnson, Cass M.
Education and Information Technologies, v21 n6 p1483-1507 Nov 2016
As colleges continue to expand online offerings, student participation within courses should be assessed to ensure that teachers can best implement effective, responsible lesson plans. This study examined discourse in an online classroom in order to gauge student participation by observing student-to-student and student-to-instructor exchanges within the discussion board. Classroom discourse was analyzed using Stahl's computer supported collaborative learning methodology. Data was collected to assess development of classroom dialogue through group collaboration, and to determine whether participants were interpreting previous posts and contributing to the development of the discussion topic. This study shows that students within the online classroom were able to construct deeper meanings in classroom dialogues through thoughtful and personal contributions, thereby reaching new understandings through collaborative discussion. This study contends that through insightful planning and guided responses, instructors can manage online classroom discussions to better direct student communications in order to improve collaborative learning and knowledge construction.
Descriptors: Electronic Learning, Online Courses, Educational Improvement, Student Participation, Teacher Student Relationship, Cooperative Learning, Computer Mediated Communication, Discussion (Teaching Technique), Technology Uses in Education, Group Dynamics, Group Discussion, Discourse Analysis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A