Online Graduate Education: Developing Scholars through Asynchronous Discussion
Abstract:
Considerable effort has been placed on understanding and enhancing online interaction to increase student learning, examine teaching strategies, and build learning communities. This research explored another aspect of interaction: the emergence of scholarship by graduate students through asynchronous discussion. Qualitative analysis of archived discussion postings found that graduate students rely on their experience, expertise, and each other. Three major aspects of scholarship emerged: (1) recognizing task difficulty; (2) posing difficult questions; and (3) applying information to other fields. Overall, graduate students welcomed the opportunity to express their knowledge and competencies, showing signs of learning and scholarship.
International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
