Enhancing Collaborative Learning
Impact of Question Prompts Design for Online Discussion
Keywords:
Collaborative learning, online learning, technology, discussion forums, discussionsAbstract
Objective: The purpose of study was to investigate the impact of question prompts designed to guide students’ focus on context-related issues as they solve problems in a web-based environment. Background: Online discussions integrated with collaborative
learning were used to examine student interactions and behaviors in an online discussion. Method: Twenty graduate students were randomly assigned to either the treatment (ten participants) or the control group (ten participants); one group received question
prompts while working in the web-based learning environment while the other did not. At the end, they were asked to fill out an online questionnaire rating their confidence and competence levels in the problem solving process. Analyses were conducted to
determine the impact of question prompts. Results: Statistical results showed that students who received question prompts from the instructor received significantly higher evaluations than students who did not receive question prompts when analyzed overall
and when each rubric was analyzed individually. In addition, the study also suggested that online discussion had significant positive impact in developing students’ deeper learning. Conclusion: Question prompts designed by the instructor helped to enhance
students’ self-efficacy about their ability to solve complex problems. Application: The outcome indicated the importance of teachers’ guidance and assistance to lead students into deeper learning. Although online learning provides flexibility and potential for deeper
learning, the online discussion needs to be structured and moderated throughout the process.
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