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?

8

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

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)

11

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.

17

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

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

20

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

Thank You!

Contact Information: gaof@ohio.edu