By James Brauer, Connected Principals
Clarke and Kinne (2012) conducted a study that followed two forms of asynchronous discussion amongst students–1.) through use of threaded discussions in a message board and 2.) by blog posts and responses. According to their findings, students felt more engaged and personally connected to other learners by engaging in discourse through blogging. According to their research, students who blogged about coursework and posted responses to classmates, developed a strong sense of community amongst each other. Because the form of blog writing tends to be less “academic” and more personal, students linked their meaning of academic material to their own lives and experiences. This resulted in more candid and personal discourse amongst the class. While students maintained attention to the various academic topics of study, they did so with their own voice. Students “felt more listed to and valued in their posts than students using discussion boards” (p. 11). Ultimately, this led to the indirect formation of a community of practice, of which students connected their learning experiences to the shared experiences of others. This was in sharp contrast to the experiences of students that engaged in discourse through threaded discussions via Blackboard learning management system. Students tended to collaborate with peers in a very “academic,” less personal tone.
http://connectedprincipals.com/archives/6431
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