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This study looks at how the media used in online discussion can affect the learning outcomes for students involved in distance learning activities. Online discussion within any learning environment can provide the opportunity for students to engage in thoughtful, content-based conversations about the topic under study, which may result in deeper understanding and greater learning gains. A content analysis of student discussion in listserv-based (electronic- mail), discussion, World Wide Web-based threaded discussion, and chat discussion in an educational technology course at American University (District of Columbia) is presented. Three main research questions guided the study: (1) What type of discussion takes place in each setting? (2) How much discussion takes place in each setting? and (3) What is the quality of the discussions in each setting? A student survey conducted at the end of the semester assessed the effectiveness of the discussions in terms of understanding and perceptions of course content. Findings indicate