Introducing synchronous e-discussion tools in co-located classrooms: A study on the experiences of 'active' and 'silent' secondary school students

Christa S.C. Asterhan, Tammy Eisenmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Even though the advantages of online discussions over face-to-face discussion formats have been extensively discussed and investigated, the blending of synchronous online discussion tools in co-located classroom settings has been considered with far less intensity. In this paper, we report on secondary school students' experiences and preferences concerning two different discussion formats for critical debate in co-located classroom settings: face-to-face and synchronous, computer-mediated communication (CMC). Data was collected with the help of self-report questionnaires (N = 70) and structured interviews (N = 4). A differentiation was made between students that define themselves as active participants in face-to-face classroom discussions and those who usually remain silent in these settings. The findings highlight several potential advantages of the computer-mediated discussion format, especially in terms of the social-interactive and managerial aspects of classroom discussions. Comparisons between the two groups show that 'silent' students welcome the introduction of CMC with enthusiasm, whereas 'active' students do not show a clear preference. Practical implications as well as new directions for further research are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2169-2177
Number of pages9
JournalComputers in Human Behavior
Volume27
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • Argumentation
  • Classroom dialogue
  • Classroom discussions
  • Computer-mediated communication
  • Face-to-face communication
  • Individual differences

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • General Psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Introducing synchronous e-discussion tools in co-located classrooms: A study on the experiences of 'active' and 'silent' secondary school students'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this