Comparing Students' Uptake of Others' Contributions in Synchronous/Asynchronous Online Discussions

• In Event: Design and Instructional Technology

Abstract

Research has documented the challenges of online discussions. Threaded, asynchronous forums produce unrelated posts, despite the value of uptake of others’ words/ideas in academic discourse. Opportunities remain to study whether synchronous discussions, in alternative forums, might improve students’ uptake. We compared 18 synchronous/asynchronous discussions in two forum types (linear chat and collaborative responsive writing) using mixed methods: (a) qualitative coding; (b) statistical analysis of codes; (c) discourse analysis of exemplars. Total length of dialogic spells (chains of related posts) differed significantly between synchronous (M = 73.5, SD = 14.2) versus asynchronous (M = 18.0, SD = 23.9). Synchronous discussions included more maintenance/repair based on social norms, which increased length/uptake and reduced misunderstandings, compared with asynchronous discussions.

Authors

• Glenn G. Smith, University of South Florida
  Presenting Author

• Michael B. Sherry, University of South Florida
  Presenting Author

• Kimberly Defusco, University of South Florida
  Presenting Author