Share Paper: Student Perceptions about Online Discussions

  1. Yu-mei Wang, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
Tuesday, October 22 1:50 PM-2:10 PM Las Vegas Ballroom 1

Abstract: Although online discussion has been a popular learning tool in higher education, research findings vary greatly on its effective use to support student learning. Some studies report student satisfaction and active participation in online discussions. Other studies describe student negative opinions and reluctance in participation. Student perceptions about learning are impacted by numerous factors and exert great influence upon learning outcomes. Online discussion is a complicated task. A successful online discussion needs to be supported by robust design, effective implementation, and rigorous assessment. All of these major components should be considered in studying student perceptions about online discussions. This study ...