Title: Using social web tools for knowledge construction

Authors: Margarida Lucas, Antonio Moreira

Addresses: CIDTFF – Research Centre for Didactics and Technology in Teacher Education, Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-101 Aveiro, Portugal. ' CIDTFF – Research Centre for Didactics and Technology in Teacher Education, Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-101 Aveiro, Portugal

Abstract: This paper examines knowledge construction in a distributed learning environment supported by social web tools. Research data was gathered from online asynchronous discussions in a first-year masters degree course in multimedia in education. Our analysis was modelled on Gunawardena et al.|s (1997) study and results indicate that, despite a significant percentage in the phase of sharing and comparing information, interaction at the highest levels of knowledge construction is relevant and suggests that knowledge was constructed.

Keywords: social web; knowledge construction; interaction analysis; distributed learning; multimedia in education; Web 2.0; social networking; e-learning; electronic learning; online learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2011.039399

International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, 2011 Vol.3 No.2, pp.151 - 161

Published online: 26 Feb 2015 *

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