Applying Usage Model Concepts to Describe Nontraditional Undergraduate Online Forum Help-Seeking Behaviors in Calculus

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 51
  In Roundtable Session: Using Models, Exploring Factors, Gathering Lessons Learned, and Analyzing Patterns to Inform Online Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Online discussion forums have potential to provide alternative, asynchronous, help-seeking to undegraduates in STEM. While providing another way for students to engage with instructors outside of class, online forums may also open up socio-technical communication and help-seeking among the students themselves. Nontraditional students and others who learn through distance education or spend limited time on campus may benefit form online forum help-seeking opportunities. This paper reports on early outcomes of mixed-methods research aimed at understanding nontraditonal student help-seeking behaviors using an online forum in distance-delivered calculus. This study is unique in its goal to present research findings in the form of an online forum usage model inspired by user-centered design tools and principles.

Author

• Angela Minichiello, Utah State University