Title: Analysing knowledge building: usages, achievements and limits of forums at university

Authors: Noemí Verdú; Jaume Sanuy

Addresses: Teaching Innovation and E-learning Area, Educational Sciences Institute – Life-Long Learning, University of Lleida, Jaume II, 71, 25001, Lleida, Spain. ' Pedagogy and Psychology Department, University of Lleida, Avda. Estudi General, 4, 25003, Lleida, Spain

Abstract: This paper aims to explore asynchronous communication in computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL). Thirty virtual forums are analysed in both a quantitative and a qualitative way. Quantitatively, the number of messages written, message threads and original and answer messages are counted. Qualitatively, the content of the notes is analysed, cataloguing these into two different levels: on one hand, as a set of knowledge building process categories, and on the other hand, following the scaffolds that Knowledge Forum offers. The results show that both an exchange of information and a collaborative work take place. Nevertheless, the construction of knowledge is superficial.

Keywords: interaction analysis; content analysis; virtual forums; knowledge building; higher education; universities; university forums; asynchronous communication; knowledge forums; collaborative work; web based forums; online forums; internet; world wide web; e-forums; electronic forums; forum usage; written messages; message threads; original messages; answer messages; note contents; notes; information exchange; knowledge construction; superficiality; University of Lleida; Spain; knowledge scaffolds; knowledge scaffolding; innovation; CSCL; computer-supported learning; collaborative learning; technological issues; pedagogical issues; pedagogy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2012.047308

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2012 Vol.12 No.1, pp.27 - 40

Published online: 28 Aug 2014 *

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