Confronting the pedagogical challenges of online asynchronous discussion groups

Title: Confronting the pedagogical challenges of online asynchronous discussion groups
Creator: Edmondson, Elizabeth
Date: 2008
Type: Text; Journal article
Identifier: http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/43400
Identifier: vital:6010
Identifier: ISSN:1447-9494
Abstract: This paper argues that online asynchronous discussion groups suffer from inherent pedagogical limitations, in spite of their abilities to provide sites for content focussed discussion and support for students. Discussion groups cannot overcome their structural limitations in constructing question and answer trees because they create end of learning cycle outputs rather than facilitating learning processes. In distance education, online discussion groups suffer an additional pedagogical weakness by constructing student-teacher discussions as semi-public discussions. Their mediated environment contributes implicit ‘veils of uncertainty’ that limit meaningful connectedness between learners and teachers. Developing an awareness of these problems can assist teachers and designers in identifying appropriate supports to student learning.
Relation: The International Journal of Learning Vol. 14, no. 12 (2008), p. 101-108
Rights: Copyright Common Ground Publishing
Rights: This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
Subject: Pedagogy; Learning process; Learning cycle; Discussion groups
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