The Potential of Synchronous Communication to Enhance Participation in Online Discussions

摘要

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) has commonly been adopted in educational settings. However, few researchers have studied the effects of different CMC in such settings. This study examines how the use of synchronous chat, as a complement to asynchronous discussion board, affects student participation in online discussions. Two online classes of different sizes (n=8, 19) that participated in two asynchronous and two synchronous online discussions were examined. Both actual and perceived measures of participation indicated that the use of synchronous chat affected participation positively, which was especially evident in the smaller class. In the synchronous discussions, the students felt that they worked together, because they were confident that someone would respond to their ideas, and they did not feel restricted to discussing course content, which seem to be key factors in what is labeled personal participation.