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Graduate Students' Perspectives on the Meaningful Nature of Online Discussions
Article

, Mississippi State University, United States ; , Wayne State University, United States ; , , Mississippi State University, United States

Journal of Interactive Learning Research Volume 19, Number 1, ISSN 1093-023X Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), Waynesville, NC

Abstract

This study investigated graduate students' perceptions of the online collaborations and the factors that contribute to the quality of online discussion with a qualitative case study. Data were collected through interviews with 20 graduate students in an online course, their online discourse, and the instructor's observation notes. The case study found out that manner of response, size of the group, and the topic of discussion in the online discussions were identified by the students as the important factors that determined the quality of online discussions. From students' perspective, this study helped identify patterns in which online discussion is conducted in conjunction with course context and individual characteristics for enhancing learning growth. Knowledge of such patterns can facilitate new designs and improvement of online collaborative learning.

Citation

Du, J., Zhang, K., Olinzock, A. & Adams, J. (2008). Graduate Students' Perspectives on the Meaningful Nature of Online Discussions. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 19(1), 21-36. Waynesville, NC: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved March 19, 2024 from .

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