This study goes beyond student perceptions of online learning experiences, satisfaction, and attitudes, to examine the actual participation and dynamics that occur in online discussions and their relationship to student learning outcomes. A content analysis approach was used to investigate students' socio-cognitive processes in an online…

In this self-study of a secondary teacher education course, the authors investigated whether there was evidence of critically reflective problem solving on the part of prospective teachers who participated in a peer-led online discussion of a teaching case about English-language learners. They also examined what approaches to multicultural…

As part of a larger project, we studied how a foreign language test got discursively constructed in the talk of upper-secondary-school leavers. A group of students were asked to keep an oral diary to record their ideas, feelings and experiences of preparing for and taking the test over the last spring term of school, as part of a high-stakes…

Many consider rich argumentation to be the core of quality discussions and view it as a vehicle to solving problems and clarifying content. This study examined the influence of a discussion leader intervention on the quality of online argumentation and interactivity. Subjects were 44 undergraduate students who participated in online discussions on…

This paper reports on a pilot study of 34 sixth-grade students engaged in mathematical explorations that was carried out in the context of a national Logo project in Costa Rica. Students worked in pairs investigating a mathematical microworld written in Logo. The investigation had three phases: (1) open exploration of the microworld, during which…

This study investigated the extent to which English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) writing students in a Taiwanese university used ideas provided by their peers during computer-mediated prewriting discussions, and the quality of the peers' comments. Subjects were 17 students in four writing groups. Transcripts of discussions preceding the first…

A study was conducted to analyze the quantitative and attitudinal variables that affect the nature and extent of use of the New Jersey public libraries. The first phase of the study consisted of a series of group discussions which focused on public knowledge of library facilities, attitudes and interests of the public, and library use patterns.…

A study investigated gender differences in language use in electronic mail discussion groups. A review of research on discourse analysis identifies areas in which gender differences are found in interpersonal interaction and language use in general, and how these reflect differences in socialization. Research on electronic discussion groups…

Offers an in-depth analysis of interaction patterns in just one example of one type of speaking event--the discussion class. Data comprised a video recording of a Master of Business Administration discussion group before and after the unexpected arrival of the tutor. Investigated the ways the presence and absence of the tutor impacted the…

Compared date rape attitudes in college students who did and did not complete a mixed-gender date rape workshop. Survey results indicated men were more tolerant of date rape than women; control group students were more tolerant than treatment group students; and men exhibited a greater program effect than women. (SM)

Four problem-based tutorial groups (n=23 students, n=4 faculty) in Harvard University Medical School's New Pathway track were studied to determine what interactions characterized student-directed discussion. It was found that students selected most topics discussed, that tutors questioned infrequently, provided limited information, and tolerated…

Farmer-scientist focus sessions represent a means by which participants exchange ideas for action, identify researchable topics, and enhance long-term farmer-scientist team work. Three examples involving controlling weeds, disposal of cull onion, and food safety concerns are described that illustrate the types of issues treated, the format, and…

This is an inductive case study of a European-American fourth-grade girl who struggled with print-based aspects of literacy. The study highlights her multiple levels of competency as she participated over time in a heterogeneous literature discussion group that read and responded to three culturally diverse novels. Data include 27 audio-taped…

The purpose of the research was to define online bullying, determine its incidence in higher education, and survey methods instructors used to respond to those students who use the online forum to intimidate or offend their classmates or instructors. The study extended Tattum and Tattum's (1992) definition of bullying to define the term…

This study reports on exploratory research that investigated biology teachers' perceptions of their online information seeking practices and how these practices influenced their instructional planning activities. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the results of an online survey and ten in-depth interviews measuring use of specific online…