enhancing connectivity and sustainability in asynchronous online discussion
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Fei GaoOhio University
October 29, 2010
Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion
![Page 2: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Sustainability
Connectivity
Two Important Qualities of Discussions
(Guzdial, 1997; Hewitt, 2005; Hewitt & Teplovs, 1999)
(Hara, Bonk, & Angeli, 2000; Larson & Keiper, 2002)
A
B
2
![Page 3: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Can I make the development and growth of discussions more visible?
Can I make the connections among posts more visible?
Design of Environments
3
![Page 4: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
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
![Page 5: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
A Concept-Map Based Environment
(Novak, 2006; Nesbit, 2006)
5
![Page 6: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
A Concept-Map Based Environment
(www.mindomo.com)
6
![Page 7: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
A Concept-Map Based Environment
7
![Page 8: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
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?
8
![Page 9: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
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
9
![Page 10: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
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
![Page 11: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
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)
11
Connectivity
* p < .05
Mean and Standard Deviation of Links/Connections Created by Individual Student in the Two Environments (n=16)
![Page 12: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
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
![Page 13: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
13
Sustainability
Frequencies of different size threads in the two discussion environments
![Page 14: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Survey Results – Likert Questions
There is a statistical difference in terms of environment.
[F (1, 15) = 12.40, p < .05]
14
![Page 15: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
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
![Page 16: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
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
![Page 17: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
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.
17
![Page 18: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
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.”
18
![Page 19: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Design
of
the
Environment
Quality
of
Discussion
Implications & Future Research
19
![Page 20: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Design
of
the
Environment
What
Information
Is
Visible
What
Learners
Are
Aware of
Quality
of
Discussion
Implications & Future Research
How
Learners
Behave
20
![Page 21: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
How can we make important qualities of a discussion visible to participants? 1
Implications & Future Research
21
![Page 22: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
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
![Page 23: Enhancing Connectivity and Sustainability in Asynchronous Online Discussion](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062319/5580cf90d8b42a8e558b5328/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
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