Online Discussion or Authentic Dialogue? How Design Affects Discussions in Two Alternative Types of Online Forums
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2025
Keywords
collaborative writing
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13491
Abstract
Authentic dialogue demands that we respond, interpret and sometimes disagree with others' ideas—a key component of participation in a democratic society. Yet the sharing and uptake of different ideas can be hampered by traditional online platforms which divide students into isolated threads. To tackle this issue, we introduce two novel online forums designed to foster engagement and idea exchange: a linear chat, akin to SMS, and a collaborative writing forum we call CREW. Seventy-three graduate students, divided into 18 small groups, tested these forums. We used discourse analysis to measure idea uptake and other dialogic features. From this analysis, seven discussions emerged as particularly interactive and engaging, exhibiting a high uptake-to-turn ratio. We noticed linear chat encouraged a high proportion of uptake, but also produced ‘tangles’—breaks in related post chains. CREW discussions sparked similar engagement but resolved most tangles since they required a collaborative written response. This study offers fresh insights in both research and teaching for improving online discussions.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
British Journal of Educational Technology, v. 56, issue 1, p. 103-127
Scholar Commons Citation
Smith, Glenn G. and Sherry, Michael B., "Online Discussion or Authentic Dialogue? How Design Affects Discussions in Two Alternative Types of Online Forums" (2025). Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications. 749.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tal_facpub/749
