enhancing connectivity and sustainability in asynchronous online discussion
TRANSCRIPT
Fei GaoOhio University
October 29, 2010
Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion
Sustainability
Connectivity
Two Important Qualities of Discussions
(Guzdial, 1997; Hewitt, 2005; Hewitt & Teplovs, 1999)
(Hara, Bonk, & Angeli, 2000; Larson & Keiper, 2002)
A
B
2
Can I make the development and growth of discussions more visible?
Can I make the connections among posts more visible?
Design of Environments
3
Design Principles
Principle 1: The development and growth of discussions should be made more visible.
Principle 2: The connections and relationships among posts should be made more visible.
4
A Concept-Map Based Environment
(Novak, 2006; Nesbit, 2006)
5
A Concept-Map Based Environment
(www.mindomo.com)
6
A Concept-Map Based Environment
7
Research Questions
How did the discussions in the discussion map differ from those in the threaded forum in terms of connectivity?
How did the discussions in the discussion map differ from those in the threaded forum in terms of sustainability?
How did students perceive the discussions and learning in the two environments?
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Threaded Forum
Concept-MapEnvironment
Topic 1: Simulation
Students in Group 1&2
Students in Group 3&4
Topic 2: Virtual World
Students in Group 3&4
Students in Group 1&2
Participants: 16 students in an online course Procedures: Students worked in groups of 4
Method
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Connectivity
Number of system links/thematic links
Number of within-thread /cross-thread links
Sustainability
Number of posts per thread
Number of threads of different size (size means the number of posts in the
thread)
Perception Student survey responses
Data Analysis
10
Within-Thread Connection*
Cross-Thread Connection
Forum Map Forum Map
System 2.63 (1.75)
4.75 (3.32)
0.00 (0.00)
0.31 (0.60)
Semantic 2.63 (1.75)
4.75 (3.32)
0.13 (0.34)
0.31 (0.60)
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Connectivity
* p < .05
Mean and Standard Deviation of Links/Connections Created by Individual Student in the Two Environments (n=16)
12
Sustainability
* p < .05
Average Number of Posts Per Thread in the Two Environments
Mean SD
Threaded Forum 2.65 1.37
Discussion Map 4.41 3.66
13
Sustainability
Frequencies of different size threads in the two discussion environments
Survey Results – Likert Questions
There is a statistical difference in terms of environment.
[F (1, 15) = 12.40, p < .05]
14
The environment made it EASY
to see the growth and development of a thread of discussion
P<.05
Threaded Forum Concept-Map Environment
-2
-1
0
1
2
0.380000000000002
1.38
“[The new environment] allows one to see the whole development of ideas- so you have a better overall view of what's being said.”
15
The environment made it EASY
to extend and build ideas on a thread of discussion
P<.05
Threaded Forum Concept-Map Environment
-2
-1
0
1
2
0.25
1.38
“The visual concept mapping feature naturally lends itself to making connections, developing, and maintaining an atmosphere of conversation.”
16
The environment made it EASY
to see how a post is connected to others
Threaded Forum Concept-Map Environment
-2
-1
0
1
2
0.25
1.44
P<.05
“[In the new environment,] you could see how many people responded to a post and how it connected to other posts at the same time.
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The environment made it EASY
to make within-thread and cross-thread connections
Threaded Forum Concept-Map Environment
-2
-1
0
1
2
-0.380000000000002
1.69000000000001
P<.05
“I guess I'm not sure how you build a cross thread connection on ANGEL threaded forums, except by mentioning it in your post. In the new environment, you can connect with graphic arrows, very cool.”
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Design
of
the
Environment
Quality
of
Discussion
Implications & Future Research
19
Design
of
the
Environment
What
Information
Is
Visible
What
Learners
Are
Aware of
Quality
of
Discussion
Implications & Future Research
How
Learners
Behave
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How can we make important qualities of a discussion visible to participants? 1
Implications & Future Research
21
How can we make important qualities of a discussion visible to participants? 1
2 How does the visibility of these qualities influence participants’ awareness during the discussion?
Implications & Future Research
22
How can we make important qualities of a discussion visible to participants?
3
1
2 How does the visibility of these qualities influence participants’ awareness during the discussion?
How does the awareness of a particular quality affect participants’ behaviors, and therefore the discussion with respect to that quality?
Implications & Future Research
23
