Share Paper: Sense of Discussion Thread Initiation in Different Class Sizes and Group Configurations in Online Graduate Courses

  1. Mingzhu Qiu, CTL, OISE/UT, Canada
Friday, March 7 11:00-11:20 AM Royale Skybox 208

Abstract: This study is to explore instructors’ and students’ sense of discussion thread initiation in different sizes of classes and group configurations by adopting grounded theory method and analyzing 22 interviews. The research results uncovered that different classes and group configurations did affect participants’ sense of discussion thread initiation and development. In large whole class discussions, most students felt too many threads branching out and got lost in following interesting topics, while in small whole class discussions, students felt less encouraged by the small number of threads and limited topics. Instructors divided large whole classes into subgroup discussions to achieve deeper ...