Community of Inquiry Design Decisions Across Disciplines

• In Event: Studying How Learning Design Decisions Contribute to the Learner Experience in Online Environments

Abstract

The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework has become the most-cited framework for online learning. Although it was created as a generic framework, as more courses are offered in an online format, understanding how instructors intentionally or unintentionally make design decisions related to the CoI across disciplines is worthwhile. Using a multiple-case study design, we observed archived courses across four discipline classifications (pure-hard, pure-soft, applied-hard, and applied-soft) for CoI indicators and then conducted semi-structured interviews to determine participants’ rationale and intentionality for using or not using the CoI indicators observed in their online courses. While results suggest varying degrees of application of CoI indicators across disciplines, this study offers insight into how and why communities of inquiry are created across disciplines.

Authors

• Jennifer C. Richardson, Purdue University
  Presenting Author

• Adrie A. Koehler, Purdue University
  Presenting Author

• Deepti Tagare, Purdue University
  Presenting Author

• Lucia Urena-Rodriguez, Purdue University
  Presenting Author

• Qian Xu, Purdue University
  Presenting Author

• Zhuo Zhang, Purdue University
  Presenting Author

• Holly Fiock, Purdue University
  Presenting Author

• Yishi Long, Purdue University
  Presenting Author

• Mohammad Shams Duha, Purdue University
  Presenting Author