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Characteristics of asynchronous online discussions in a graduate course: an exploratory study

Xiaofeng Li (Department of Information and Library Science, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania, USA)
Yawen Yu (Division of Human Communication, Development and Information Sciences, Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

Information and Learning Sciences

ISSN: 2398-5348

Article publication date: 14 July 2020

Issue publication date: 10 August 2020

1110

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the following questions: What are the types of discussion prompts in a fully online graduate course? What are the key characteristics of students’ discussion initial posts and replies in a fully online graduate course? In what ways, if any, do discussion prompts influence the types of initial posts and replies in discussion threads?

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative approach to explore the dynamics of students’ knowledge construction through using asynchronous discussion boards. A total of 20 discussion prompts and 115 discussion threads from nine archival discussion boards in a fully online library science course were collected and analyzed.

Findings

The findings identified open-ended, explanatory and reflective prompts in discussion boards. Students engaged in simply stating, paraphrasing, elaborating, extending, reflecting, socializing and sharing emotions in discussion posts. These findings highlighted the interconnectedness of reflection and socio-emotional interactions in a community of inquiry and pointed out their important roles to support richer and deeper online discussions. The study further observed linkages between the types of discussion prompts and the types of discussion posts.

Originality/value

This study addressed an urgent need to understand the use of online discussion boards in an emergency remote teaching condition in a pandemic. The findings of this study offered educators insights into evidence-based design recommendations for prompts to support students’ knowledge construction and deep learning through using discussion boards.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This article is part of the special issue, “A Response to Emergency Transitions to Remote Online Education in K-12 and Higher Education” which contains shorter, rapid-turnaround invited works, not subject to double blind peer review. The issue was called, managed and produced on short timeline in Summer 2020 toward pragmatic instructional application in the Fall 2020 semester.

Citation

Li, X. and Yu, Y. (2020), "Characteristics of asynchronous online discussions in a graduate course: an exploratory study", Information and Learning Sciences, Vol. 121 No. 7/8, pp. 599-609. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-04-2020-0120

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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