ABSTRACT
In higher education,
online discussions are an integral part of collaborative based e-Learning
systems. However, there can be problems associated with current online
discussion models. For example, it can be easy to set open-ended
discussions which attract little participation and assessing contributions
can be difficult or time-consuming. Students may not achieve the expected
learning outcomes without proper structure and management in online
discussions. This paper proposes a web-based environment for online
discussions where the facilitator can structure each discussion according
to its nature and learning requirements using already designed templates.
Features include setting mandatory sections to address, assessment
weighting, release dates and archiving options. Students can prepare and
post their messages and responses using the discussion forum interface.
The facilitator may assess students’ messages, mark them and release them
to other responders for review. The discussion can be automatically
archived for further discussion or reference. Students should find the
proposed structured online discussion model easier to follow, while the
facilitator will have more control over the activity and find it easier to
assess and re-use. Templates can help in structuring this process.
Keywords:
Collaboration, Discussion Forum, CMC, Asynchronous Communication,
e-Learning, Higher Education, Templates, Collaborative Learning |
