Title: Exploring knowledge sharing discussion behavioural patterns in e-learning communities: a comparison of peer-assessment and problem solving strategy

Authors: Huei-Tse Hou, Kuo-En Chang, Yao-Ting Sung

Addresses: Graduate Institute of Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, #43 Keelung Road, Section 4, Taipei, Taiwan. ' Graduate Institute of Information and Computer Education, National Taiwan Normal University, 162, He-ping East Road, Section 1, Taipei 106, Taiwan. ' Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Taiwan Normal University, 162, He-ping East Road, Section 1, Taipei 106, Taiwan

Abstract: In a Web 2.0 e-learning context, the knowledge of teachers and learners is often shared via online discussion environments. In-depth exploring the online discussion behavioural patterns for teacher/learner communities with different interactive learning strategies via empirical observations and comparisons may provides important further references for community managers or system developers. In this paper, we summarise a series of our findings of three-empirical studies in Taiwan, and make in-depth comparison and discussions of the online discussion behavioural patterns of two-interactive strategies: peer-assessment and problem solving, then discuss the features and limitations of the strategies. The comparison and discussions may provide some important references for community management and system development in e-learning environments. In turn, we also propose suggestions regarding guiders| intervention, strategy design and intelligent agent development.

Keywords: behavioural patterns; online discussions; web based communities; online communities; virtual communities; sequential analysis; content analysis; knowledge sharing; peer assessment; problem solving; interactive learning; learning strategies; knowledge transition; intelligent agents; Taiwan; e-learning; electronic learning; Web 2.0; internet; world wide web; teachers; learners; community managers; system developers; interactive strategies; community management; system development; guiders; intervention; strategy design; continuing education; life-long learning; ICT; information technology; communications technology; knowledge creation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2011.039692

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2011 Vol.21 No.1, pp.25 - 41

Published online: 16 Oct 2014 *

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