Lexical and Communicative Features of Knowledge-Building Discourse in a Grade 5 Science Classroom

• In Event: Paper Session: New Directions in Learning Analytics and Assessment

Abstract

This study quantitatively and qualitatively examined the lexical bundles and academic words that students in a Grade 5 science classroom used in their online discourse in relation to their communicative influence. The students investigated human body systems over an eight-month period with the support of Knowledge Forum. Students’ online posts were analyzed to obtain academic words and four-word lexical bundles related to research processes, participant stances, and textual organization. The relations between lexical bundles, academic words, and the degree of peer responses received were quantitatively examined. The results revealed patterns of academic words and expressions used by students in productive online discourse, which were associated with their peer impact achieved in collaborative knowledge building.

Authors

• Hyejin Park, University at Albany - SUNY

• Jianwei Zhang, University at Albany - SUNY