Computer Mediated Communication and Student Learning in Large Introductory Sociology Classes

2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric R. Wright ◽  
Anthony H. Lawson
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Introductory Sociology ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Online Group

Over the past several years, scholars of teaching and learning have demonstrated the potential of collaborative learning strategies for improving student learning. This paper examines the use of computer-mediated communication to promote collaborative student learning in large introductory sociology courses. Specifically, we summarize a project we conducted during the 2000-2001 academic year in which we added online collaborative learning activities to the curriculum of two large sections of introductory sociology. Drawing on Novak et al.'s (1999) Just-In-Time Teaching methods, we developed online activities to help prepare students for subsequent in-class work and to cultivate a sense of group solidarity among smaller teams within the larger class. The results suggest that student engagement in the online group learning activities was strongly predictive of better student academic achievement on the biweekly quizzes, cumulative final exam, and course paper. These findings highlight the potential value of online group work for fostering collaborative learning environments in large lecture courses as well as for enhancing student learning.

What Factors Promote Sustained Online Discussions and Collaborative Learning in a Web-Based Course?

2011 ◽  
pp. 192-211
Author(s):  
Xinchun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Interactive Learning ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Learning Tasks ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Online Discussion Group

Although the pedagogical advantages of online interactive learning are well known, much needs to be done in instructional design of applicable collaborative learning tasks that motivate sustained student participation and interaction. This study investigates the factors that encourage student interaction and collaboration in both process and product oriented computer mediated communication (CMC) tasks in a Web-based course that adopts interactive learning tasks as its core learning activities. The analysis of a post course survey questionnaire collected from three online classes suggest that among others, the structure of the online discussion, group size and group cohesion, strictly enforced deadlines, direct link of interactive learning activities to the assessment, and the differences in process and product driven interactive learning tasks are some of the important factors that influence participation and contribute to sustained online interaction and collaboration.

What Factors Promote Sustained Online Discussions and Collaborative Learning in a Web-Based Course?

2011 ◽  
pp. 3084-3103
Author(s):  
Xinchun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Interactive Learning ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Learning Tasks ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Online Discussion Group

Although the pedagogical advantages of online interactive learning are well known, much needs to be done in instructional design of applicable collaborative learning tasks that motivate sustained student participation and interaction. This study investigates the factors that encourage student interaction and collaboration in both process and product oriented computer mediated communication (CMC) tasks in a Web-based course that adopts interactive learning tasks as its core learning activities. The analysis of a post course survey questionnaire collected from three online classes suggest that among others, the structure of the online discussion, group size and group cohesion, strictly enforced deadlines, direct link of interactive learning activities to the assessment, and the differences in process and product driven interactive learning tasks are some of the important factors that influence participation and contribute to sustained online interaction and collaboration.

What Factors Promote Sustained Online Discussions and Collaborative Learning in a Web-Based Course?

2009 ◽  
pp. 1410-1430
Author(s):  
Xinchun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Interactive Learning ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Learning Tasks ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Online Discussion Group

Although the pedagogical advantages of online interactive learning are well known, much needs to be done in instructional design of applicable collaborative learning tasks that motivate sustained student participation and interaction. This study investigates the factors that encourage student interaction and collaboration in both process and product oriented computer mediated communication (CMC) tasks in a Web-based course that adopts interactive learning tasks as its core learning activities. The analysis of a post course survey questionnaire collected from three online classes suggest that among others, the structure of the online discussion, group size and group cohesion, strictly enforced deadlines, direct link of interactive learning activities to the assessment, and the differences in process and product driven interactive learning tasks are some of the important factors that influence participation and contribute to sustained online interaction and collaboration.

scholarly journals Online collaboration and offline interaction between students using asynchronous tools in blended learning

2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-jung Wang
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Collaboration ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Active Learning Strategies ◽  
Ict Tools

<span>The increasing use of innovative blended learning strategies which incorporate online discussion into the classroom requires the examination of asynchronous, computer mediated communication (ACMC) to fully understand the learners' total engagement and the contribution of such ICT tools to student learning. This study analysed students' online utterances and offline interactions, to determine the extent of collaborative learning among students from two colleges. Results show that behaviours that characterise successful collaborative learning in an asynchronous networked environment were present, but the patterns were different from previous studies. The implementation of ICT tools in blended learning does promote social interaction among students and their engagement; however, it does not automatically facilitate students in their adoption of active learning strategies. The offline atmosphere in carrying out the ACMC activities were sorted into five major categories: struggling with platform operations, handling technical problems, passive attitudes towards the procedure, tense atmosphere in class, and engagement in tasks. Based on the findings, some pedagogical implications are presented.</span>

scholarly journals The Influence of Computer Communication Skills on Participation in a Computer Conferencing Course

1996 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Conferencing ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Good News ◽  
Marginal Effect ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Computer Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated

Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) courses are attracting students with weak computer communication skills. This study examined what happened to these students when they enrolled in a CMC course that required high levels of peer interaction. It was anticipated that students with weaker skills would miss important instructional events, have lower levels of task-relevant contributions, have less influence on group products, and engage in less demanding learning activities. But lack of technical skill had a marginal effect on participation, much less than prior knowledge of course content. The generalizability of this good news is limited by several contextual factors that supported participation of students with weak communication skills: student maturity, provision of a CMC coach, the ethos emerging from the structure and content of the course, and the low skill threshold required for participation.

Learners’ interactions: a comparison of oral and computer-assisted written conversations

ReCALL ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARISOL FERNÁNDEZ-GARCÍA ◽  
ASUNCÍON MARTÍNEZ ARBELAIZ
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Language Context

Previous research has underscored the role of negotiation in providing appropriate conditions for second language acquisition. Varonis and Gass (1985b), in a study of English as a Second Language (ESL), found greater amount of negotiation in non-native–non-native interaction than in native-non–native interaction. Given the increased interest in computer mediated communication and in its applications to language learning, this investigation explores whether those results are obtained when using an electronic written medium. This study compared the negotiations generated by dyads of non-native speakers (NNS–NNS), native speakers (NS–NS), and non-native and native speakers (NNS–NS), in the oral and written modes. The results revealed that the NNS–NS group negotiated in the oral mode significantly more than in the written mode; this group also negotiated significantly more than the other two groups in the oral mode. Learners' shared social and linguistic background seemed to have facilitated the comprehension of input. Conversely, lack of familiarity with native speaker's pronunciation seemed to have caused more breakdowns in the oral conversations of the mixed dyads. Though the results of this study suggest that negotiation is not the main resource to obtain modified input in a foreign language context, other learning strategies that may be beneficial in the language learning process were at use in learner-learner interaction.

scholarly journals Computer Mediated Communication and Vocabulary Learning: The Case of Facebook

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-116
Author(s):  
Ghaouar Nesrine ◽  
Laiche Sara ◽  
Sabah Belhadi
Keyword(s):  
Informal Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Dominant Mode ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Vocabulary Learning Strategies ◽  
Communication Modes

Nowadays, Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) becomes the most dominant mode of communication as computers, smart phones, tablets are worldwide used devices for communication especially with the internet facilities through different platforms. However, despite the spread of computer mediated communication modes and devices, it is noticed that people still lack vocabulary in the English language.  Therefore, this research intends to investigate Facebook use as a shared online space to learn vocabulary in English language. In addition, it aims at developing, within Facebook users, the possible vocabulary learning strategies that would enhance their English vocabulary learning. Therefore, two research tools were used with a group of facebook users: a questionnaire and an experiment. The obtained results confirmed that the participants under investigation have significantly improved their vocabulary learning via Facebook. In addition, vocabulary learning has been greatly affected by certain training on some strategies. Hence, Facebook proved to be not only a source of entertainment, but also an effective informal learning tool of English vocabulary.

Effects of Computer-Mediated Communication

2011 ◽  
pp. 732-736
Author(s):  
Stuart S. Gold
Keyword(s):  
Adult Students ◽  
Student Outcomes ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Working Adult ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to answer the question: Is the level of achievement of working adult students in an online class directly related to the method of compute-mediated communication used by faculty? The study examined the relationship between the methods of computer-mediated communication utilized, the independent variable; and student outcomes, the dependent variable, among working adult students in online courses. Through an examination of course communication records and student final exam grades, the researcher developed course-based measures of the methods of computer-mediated communication and student outcomes. These measures were used to conduct statistically appropriate tests to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in the student final exam scores between classes that used only basic methods of computer-mediated communication as opposed to courses that employed both basic and advanced methods.

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