Incorporating Online Discussion in Classroom Learning: A New Strategy

摘要

This paper explored the advantages and disadvantages of in-class online discussion by implementing online discussion in both in- and off-classroom settings for a professional development course, and by evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of such practices. Our results showed that the advantages of in-class online discussion are providing more perspectives, equalizing the participation of discussion, promoting cognitive thinking skills and in-depth information processing, and the ease of circulating and archiving files and documents. The disadvantages with in-class online discussion include lack of face-to-face interaction, the necessity to use more time, and the inefficiency accruing from the realization that not all learners will read the online postings.