A Tale of Six Fish: Achieving Social Presence through Discussion Forums in an Offline Learning Environment

Autor/in	Lloyd, Margaret
Titel	A Tale of Six Fish: Achieving Social Presence through Discussion Forums in an Offline Learning Environment
Quelle	In: Journal of Learning Design, 4 (2011) 2, S.39-51 (13 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1832-8342
Schlagwörter	Asynchronous Communication; Distance Education; Educational Environment; Higher Education; Case Studies; Foreign Countries; Computer Mediated Communication; Social Networks; Content Analysis; Models; Educational Technology; Australia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Lernumgebung; Pädagogische Umwelt; Schulumwelt; Hochschulbildung; Hochschulsystem; Hochschulwesen; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Ausland; Computerkonferenz; Social network; Soziales Netzwerk; Inhaltsanalyse; Analogiemodell; Unterrichtsmedien; Australien
Abstract	It is widely held, through the Socratic tradition, that discussion is at the heart of learning. Moderated discussion forums have been shown to replicate the debate, argument and verbal defence of viewpoints that we have come to expect in face-to-face learning environments and that we generally accept to underpin learning. While much has been written about discussion forums in educational settings, particularly in how to moderate and promote effective interaction with students at a distance, this paper takes a different approach. It looks at how forums may be used to support face-to-face learning in the contemporary context of the massification of on-campus classes. Further to this, it will argue for discussion forums as an indicator of social presence in the learning environment. It will cautiously conclude that, through purposeful design, this form of asynchronous communication has a valuable role to play in creating a positive and supportive environment for students entering university. Discussion forums are tools with a versatility yet to be fully exploited. (Contains 1 table and 4 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Queensland University of Technology. GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia. Tel: +61-7-313-80585; Fax: +61-7-313-83474; e-mail: jld@qut.edu.au; Web site: http://www.jld.qut.edu.au
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10