Encouraging fruitful interactions in an online module [158] Home : ALT Online Winter Conference 2018

Public Group active 8 months, 1 week ago

Tue, Dec 11 2018, 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Description

Discussion boards are ubiquitous in many online learning environments, but their effective use is seldom guaranteed (Loncar et al, 2014). There is also sometimes a tendency to evaluate discussion board participation (or lack thereof) without reference to the other online resources that constitute an online course, even though these may have a direct or indirect impact on the quantity and quality of discussion board engagement (Luo et al, 2017).

This webinar will look at one intervention to improve student interaction in a post-graduate online module by changing the interplay of discussion boards and course materials. Student feedback, tutor observation, VLE analytics, assessment outcomes and attrition rates from the pilot run of the module were reviewed and key areas for improvement identified. Simple—although to some degree controversial—changes to the discussion boards and module resources were agreed, based on this evaluation, for the next delivery of the module. Data from the discussion boards and module videos were then analysed to reveal a significant improvement in student engagement, as well as some surprises. This webinar should be of interest to those looking for practical ways to encourage students to participate more fully in an online course.

Loncar, M., Barrett, N. and Liu, G. (2014) ‘Towards the refinement of forum and asynchronous online discussion in educational contexts worldwide: Trends and investigative approaches within a dominant research paradigm’, Computers & Education, 73, pp. 93-110.

Luo, N., Zhang, M., and Qi, D. (2017) ‘Effects of different interactions on students’ sense of community in e-learning environment’, Computers & Education, 115, pp. 153-160.

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