Creating A Community Of Inquiry In Large-Enrollment Online Courses: An Exploratory Study On The Effect Of Protocols Within Online Discussions

Keywords

Community of inquiry; Large classes; Online discussions; Protocols

Abstract

It can be difficult to foster focused and effective communication in online discussions within large classes. Implementing protocols is a strategy that may help students communicate more effectively, facilitate their learning process, and improve the quality of their work within online discussions. In this exploratory research study, a protocol was developed and improved over two iterations in a very large undergraduate video-streaming business course (N1=412; N2=450). The discussion instructions were consolidated and adjusted, and design elements such as a grading rubric, exemplary student samples, and due date reminders were added in the second iteration. There were higher perceptions of social, cognitive, and teaching presences in the second iteration, as well as significantly more group cognition within the discussion measured through a Community of Inquiry coding template. Findings suggest that protocols are a potentially useful strategy to manage online discussions in large classes.

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Publication Title

Online Learning Journal

Volume

21

Issue

1

Number of Pages

165-188

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v21i1.816

Socpus ID

85019908429 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85019908429

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