Knowledge construction patterns in online conversation: A statistical discourse analysis of a role-based discussion forum

Alyssa Wise, Ming Ming Chiu

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Assigning roles to individual students can influence the group's knowledge construction (KC) process during online discussions. Twenty-one students were divided into two groups and assigned rotating roles for eight one-week asynchronous online discussions. The KC contributions of all 252 posts in the discussion were coded using a five phase scheme; then statistical discourse analysis was applied to identify segments of discussion characterized by particular aspects of KC and "pivotal posts"-those posts which initiated new segments of discussion. Finally, the influences of assigned student roles on pivotal posts and KC were modeled. The results indicate that most online discussions had a single pivotal post separating the discussion into two distinct segments: the first dominated by a lower KC phase; the second dominated by a higher KC phase. The pivotal posts that initiated later segments were often contributed mid-discussion by students playing one of two summarizing roles (Synthesizer and Wrapper).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationConnecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice
Subtitle of host publicationCSCL 2011 Conference Proceedings - Long Papers, 9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference
Pages64-71
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 2011
Event9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference: Connecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice, CSCL 2011 - Hong Kong, China
Duration: Jul 4 2011Jul 8 2011

Publication series

NameConnecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice: CSCL 2011 Conference Proceedings - Long Papers, 9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference
Volume1

Other

Other9th International Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference: Connecting Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning to Policy and Practice, CSCL 2011
Country/TerritoryChina
CityHong Kong
Period7/4/117/8/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Computer Science Applications

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