Online Collaborative Student Learning Across 4yr and 2yr Colleges

• In Event: Assessing Innovative Pedagogies for Diverse Learners

Abstract

Using four semesters of data across a cross-country online collaboration discussing current and controversial issues in American politics, I assess whether students are “academic/reflectivity” in their discussions with each other. “Academic reflectivity” was computed as a compound variable measuring deliberative, reflective posts and responses, using class or text references, posing questions that furthered academic discussions and the length of the post suggesting thorough discussions. I statistically confirm that their discussions are academically reflective, without class differences or gender bias, and that these discussions are academically reflective across any type of question (theoretical or controversial) asked over the semesters.

Author

• Anita Chadha, University of Houston, Downtown