Subject: Re: [IFETS-DISCUSS] Student contributions to on-line discussion
From: Dawn Coburn (Dawn.Coburn@DCE.AC.NZ)
Date: Thu 29 May 2003 - 00:33:27 MEST
Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 10:33:27 +1200 From: Dawn Coburn <Dawn.Coburn@DCE.AC.NZ> Subject: Re: [IFETS-DISCUSS] Student contributions to on-line discussion
Kia ora Michael
I am sure there is research. I can't cite it at the moment, but personal experience
shows that our voluntary discussions which are set up for undergraduate courses
seldom attract much interest, but participation can become quite keen in required
discussions. We do not assess the particpation as such, but it is required, in lieu
of attendance in certain courses and a record of particpation is kept. Students are
notified of failure to meet requirements in the same way as they are notified if
unexplained absences are jeopardising course completion. Many go well beyond the
requirements once they get engaged in this type of interaction.
There are others who would say that if you can meet the course learning outcomes it
doesn't matter how you reach that point, which could make it very difficult to conduct
an online discussion. It was noticeable in the international course I participated in
last year that a great number preferred to lurk and only surfaced occasionally, but
one non compulsory forum took on a life of its own and ran right through the twenty weeks.
Dawn Coburn
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