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Using community development theory to improve student engagement in online discussion: a case study

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dc.creator Elisabeth Skinner
dc.date 2009-12-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned 2015-08-12T11:34:23Z
dc.date.available 2015-08-12T11:34:23Z
dc.identifier 10.3402/rlt.v17i2.10867
dc.identifier 2156-7069
dc.identifier 2156-7077
dc.identifier https://doaj.org/article/802b485bcac1481295e3b9bc1b31fdc3
dc.identifier.uri http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/31306
dc.description Online discussion can be designed to develop the skills and confidence of students as well as providing an opportunity for constructing knowledge. If students decide not to participate or join too late, they put their own development and the quality of the learning community at risk. This article reflects on a first term undergraduate experience of a series of online discussion activities which failed to inspire timely and constructive participation. The case study identifies flaws in the design of the discussion, constructed using Salmon's five-stage model, and shows how easy it is to miss the point when designing an online activity. Participation is a pre-requisite for developing community so this article discusses how professional community development workers identify and overcome barriers to participation strengthening engagement in a community by stimulating personal and emotional interests. In the case study, discussion topics failed to strike a personal chord with many students. This has implications for designing activities that engage each student's interest from the outset so that participation in the discussion becomes a truly creative experience.
dc.language English
dc.relation http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/10867
dc.relation https://doaj.org/toc/2156-7069
dc.relation https://doaj.org/toc/2156-7077
dc.rights CC BY
dc.source Research in Learning Technology, Vol 17, Iss 2 (2009)
dc.subject online discussion
dc.subject Salmon's five-stage model
dc.subject learning communities
dc.subject student engagement
dc.subject Education (General)
dc.subject L7-991
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.subject DOAJ:Education
dc.subject DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject Education (General)
dc.subject L7-991
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.subject DOAJ:Education
dc.subject DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject Education (General)
dc.subject L7-991
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.subject Education (General)
dc.subject L7-991
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.subject Education (General)
dc.subject L7-991
dc.subject Education
dc.subject L
dc.title Using community development theory to improve student engagement in online discussion: a case study
dc.type article


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