scholarly journals Automatic assessment of online discussions using text mining

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvette Awuor ◽  
Robert Oboko
Keyword(s):  
Latent Semantic Analysis ◽  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Automatic Assessment ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Management Forum ◽  
Heavy Burden

Online discussion forums have rapidly gained usage in e-learning systems. This has placed a heavy burden on course instructors in terms of moderating student discussions. Previous methods of assessing student participation in online discussions followed strictly quantitative approaches that did not necessarily capture the students’ effort. Along with this growth in usage there is a need for accelerated knowledge extraction tools for analysing and presenting online messages in a useful and meaningful manner. This article discussed a qualitative approach which involves content analysis of the discussions and generation of clustered keywords which can be used to identify topics of discussion. The authors applied a new k-means++ clustering algorithm with latent semantic analysis to assess the topics expressed by students in online discussion forums. The proposed algorithm was then compared with the standard k-means++ algorithm. Using the Moodle course management forum to validate the proposed algorithm, the authors show that the k-mean++ clustering algorithm with latent semantic analysis performs better than a stand-alone k-means++.

scholarly journals Using Design-Based Research to Develop Meaningful Online Discussions in Undergraduate Field Experience Courses

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Johnson ◽  
Laurie Hill ◽  
Jennifer Lock ◽  
Noha Altowairiki ◽  
Christopher Ostrowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Field Experience ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Task Completion ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Design Based Research ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Group Structures

<p class="3">From a design perspective, the intentionality of students to engage in surface or deep learning is often experienced through prescribed activities and learning tasks. Educators understand that meaningful learning can be furthered through the structural and organizational design of the online environment that motivates the student towards task completion. However, learning engagement is unique for each student. It is dependent on both how students learn and their intentions for learning. Based on this challenge, the design of online discussions becomes a pedagogical means in developing students’ intentionality for the adoption of strategies leading to deep learning. Through a Design-Based Research (DBR) approach, iterative design of online learning components for undergraduate field experience courses were studied. For this paper, the focus of the research is on examining factors that influenced deep and surface levels of learning in online discussion forums. The results indicate that design factors (i.e., student engagement, group structures, and organization) influence the nature and degree of deep learning. From the findings, two implications for practice are shared to inform the design and scaffolding of online discussion forums to foster deep approaches to student learning.</p>

Motivators of Student Contribution in Peer-Facilitated Online Discussion Environments

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-57
Author(s):  
Hew Khe Foon
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Personal Gain ◽  
Working Adults ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Student Contribution ◽  
Discussion Topic

Online discussion forums are increasingly being utilized to provide a means for student-to-student interaction in e-learning environments. There is comparatively little research that examines peer-facilitated asynchronous online discussions compared to instructor-facilitated ones. This paper reports three studies on the motivators of student contribution in online discussions conducted within the context of peer-facilitation. These three studies involved the following samples: (a) full-time undergraduates (n = 47), (b) full-time graduates (n = 41), and (c) working adults in corporate settings (n = 62). Cross-comparison of the three studies revealed six major motivators: discussion topic, performance-linked incentive, personal gain, social capital, enjoyment, and response from other participants. Interestingly and contrary to expectations, the most common motivator was not performance-linked incentive such as marks for contribution but (a) the type of discussion topic followed by (b) the types of responses from other participants. Further analyses revealed that more graduate students reported being motivated by personal gain motives compared to undergraduates and working adults, and fewer undergraduates reported being motivated by the enjoyment of the discussion compared to graduates and working adults. More undergraduate and graduate students reported being motivated by marks compared to working adults. Synthesizing the findings of this study and those reported in other previous studies produces a more updated and comprehensive understanding of what motivates students to contribute in peer-facilitated online discussions. Implications of the findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Enhancing learning through the discussion forum

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nantha Kumar Subramaniam
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Adult Learners ◽  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Discussion Forum ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Collaborative Discussion

Asynchronous online discussion forums play an important role in adult online courses, and have many possible functions. Our experience in using the discussion forums in online courses for task-based collaborative discussion has led us to many questions about the optimal ways of using online discussion to support collaborative learning, such as how should instructors structure online discussions in a way that it promotes collaborative learning? What should instructors do to enhance learners' reflective thinking, critical thinking, or problem solving in online collaborative discussions? The challenges of using forum in learning have also been highlighted by many researchers. In this paper, we present a so-called “smart” discussion forum to support, monitor and facilitate task-based collaboration for the learning process of adult learners to advance their development of critical thinking.

Fostering Higher Knowledge Construction Levels in Online Discussion Forums

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 44-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khe Foon Hew ◽  
Wing Sum Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Knowledge Construction ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Student Facilitation ◽  
Facilitation Techniques

Prior research has suggested that higher levels of knowledge construction (e.g., where opinions are argued, challenged, or negotiated) have rarely been demonstrated in student online discussions. In this study, the authors replicate prior research on group size, discussion duration, and student facilitation techniques to examine the influence of these factors on the attainment of higher level knowledge construction. Data were collected from 12 online discussion forums involving undergraduate students and students’ reflection logs. Analysis of the data confirms a significant positive correction between higher level knowledge construction occurrences and group size. No correlation is found between the discussion duration and the occurrences of higher level knowledge construction. Further analysis between the higher and lower performing forums suggests that a certain critical mass, which appears to be a group size of about 10 participants, may be required to direct the discussion to advanced levels of knowledge construction. In addition, results show that students in higher performing forums used the facilitation technique of pointing, highlighting unanswered or unresolved issues statistically significantly more than their counterparts in lower performing forums.

scholarly journals An Exploration of Metacognition in Asynchronous Student-Led Discussions: A Qualitative Inquiry

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha M. Snyder ◽  
Laurie P. Dringus
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environments ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Socially Situated ◽  
Study Student

Research is limited on how metacognition is facilitated and manifested in socially situated online learning environments such as online discussion forums. We approached metacognition as the phenomenon of interest partly through a methodological objective to evaluate the relevance of a metacognition construct and partly through a content objective to study student-led facilitation of discussions as a strategy in promoting metacognition. Results revealed that the metacognition construct was useful in helping us understand and organize the data and student-led online discussions can be an effective strategy for helping students develop dimensions of metacognition including knowledge, monitoring, and regulation. However, in order for students to use these skills effectively, instruction, motivation, and guidance are needed particularly related to regulation of metacognition and co-construction of meaning.

Fostering Higher Knowledge Construction Levels in Online Discussion Forums

2012 ◽  
pp. 74-85
Author(s):  
Khe Foon Hew ◽  
Wing Sum Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Knowledge Construction ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Student Facilitation ◽  
Facilitation Techniques

Prior research has suggested that higher levels of knowledge construction (e.g., where opinions are argued, challenged, or negotiated) have rarely been demonstrated in student online discussions. In this study, the authors replicate prior research on group size, discussion duration, and student facilitation techniques to examine the influence of these factors on the attainment of higher level knowledge construction. Data were collected from 12 online discussion forums involving undergraduate students and students’ reflection logs. Analysis of the data confirms a significant positive correction between higher level knowledge construction occurrences and group size. No correlation is found between the discussion duration and the occurrences of higher level knowledge construction. Further analysis between the higher and lower performing forums suggests that a certain critical mass, which appears to be a group size of about 10 participants, may be required to direct the discussion to advanced levels of knowledge construction. In addition, results show that students in higher performing forums used the facilitation technique of pointing, highlighting unanswered or unresolved issues statistically significantly more than their counterparts in lower performing forums.

(Re)Assessing Student Thinking in Online Threaded Discussions

2013 ◽  
pp. 265-280
Author(s):  
Felicia Saffold
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Teacher Educator ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Student Thinking ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Threaded Discussions ◽  
Online Discussion Forums

A teacher educator examines the level of critical thinking of her preservice teachers participating in an urban education course through online discussions. The objective was to see if online discussions, which were the heart of the learning process, could be an effective strategy to promote critical thinking skills. Using the revised version of Bloom’s Taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001) as a guide, participants’ posts and responses were assessed to determine the quality of thinking that occurred in the online discussion forum. Results show that utilizing online discussion forums can be an effective pedagogy for classes where complex, often controversial issues such as social justice, equity, and white privilege are discussed.

scholarly journals A virtual academy of polydrug use: Masters, novices and the art of combinations

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 413-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kati Kataja ◽  
Jukka Törrönen ◽  
Pekka Hakkarainen ◽  
Christoffer Tigerstedt
Keyword(s):  
Online Discussion ◽  
Positioning Theory ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Polydrug Use ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Drug Culture ◽  
Online Setting ◽  
The One

Aims: Information technology has become an essential part of drug culture, providing a platform for lay knowledge concerning drug use. Due to the co-effects of different substances, making substance “combos” requires advanced skills to enhance pleasures and manage risks. In this study, we focussed on Finnish and Swedish online discussions as a context for learning and sharing experiences of combining substances. Methods: Taking influences from positioning theory, we used qualitative methods to map what kinds of mutual interactive positions related to the expertise in polydrug use online discussants take and how these positions are negotiated and reformulated in the online setting. We reflect these results through Howard S. Becker’s theory of social learning, according to which becoming a drug user is a process that occurs in interaction with other users, as the beginners need a model and advice from experienced users in order to claim their place in the users’ community. Results: In online forums, users discuss the risks and pleasures of combining drugs – on the one hand, in relation to different situations and, on the other hand, in relation to different competence positions. This occurs by asking for advice, presenting one’s knowledge, challenging others, repositioning oneself, defending one’s position or proving one’s competence. Conclusion: Online discussion forums constitute a kind of virtual academy where knowledge of the pleasures and risks of combining substances is produced and circulated, and where experienced masters mediate their expertise to less experienced novices.

Strategies and Principles to Develop Cognitive Presence in Online Discussions

2013 ◽  
pp. 148-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim A. Hosler ◽  
Bridget D. Arend
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Cognitive Presence ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Instructors ◽  
Question Prompts ◽  
Reference Guide ◽  
Online Discussion Forums

The chapter is designed to provide online instructors with strategies and techniques for fostering greater cognitive presence in asynchronous online discussion forums. Online discussions, moderated and facilitated by instructors and students, are a staple in online learning environments and provide powerful mechanisms for engaging students in dialogue. However, oftentimes dialogues stall out at the initial inquiry stage, and deeper, critical thinking is neglected. Realizing the foundational nature of discussion forum activities, the authors present ways in which instructors can nurture cognitive presence and foster deeper lines of thinking in online discussions. The chapter outlines the four stages of cognitive presence while offering strategies and question prompts to engender cognitive presence in online discussions. A quick reference guide is included as a discussion aid, suggesting ways to recognize the stages of cognitive presence as well as providing question prompts for engendering greater cognitive presence and critical thinking.

Learning and Assessment

2011 ◽  
pp. 85-100
Author(s):  
Mary Panko
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Adult Educators ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Group Assessment ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Effective Integration

This chapter reflects on the lessons learned by the developers of a courseabout self, peer, and group assessment for adult educators, large elementsof which were carried out via online discussion forums. In particular, thischapter will look in detail at the ways in which the learners used onlinediscussion forums and also examine particular exchanges to show how thegroup projects were developed in an online environment. From thesereflections come a number of pointers that may enable facilitators to eithermake changes to the way in which their courses are organised or highlightaspects to their students to enrich and simplify their learning experience.This case study represents the first iteration of an action research cyclewhere future investigations will lead to increasingly effective integration ofe-learning in the form of online discussions and the development of morestraightforward self, peer and group assessment.

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