A Case Study: the Dynamics of Knowledge Construction over a Post-Secondary Asynchronous Discussion Forum in a Blended Learning Course

The advance of Web 2.0 and the realization of cloud computing technology have enabled the flourishing of asynchronous discussion forums (ADFs) over the online community. Many Learning Management Systems (LMSs) nowadays such as Blackboard or Pepper allow students to post their thoughts and comments that are related to the course content on a platform where students can read and learn from each other’s postings. Although many studies have addressed the dynamics of such discussion forums, a few studies have discussed the learning outcome and the effectiveness pertaining to this new form of learning at the individual level. This case study focuses on answering the following research questions: How is knowledge constructed over this new learning platform? In which ways do the dynamic of asynchronous discussion forum shape the learning experiences and opinion formation of an individual participant? Both Social Network Analysis (SNA) and content analysis of the asynchronous discussion forum as well as interviews with two distinct participants were conducted. The findings suggest a preferential attachment model of ADF. Discussion threads grew based on students’ facilitation methodology, interests and knowledge background. The results identified the potential risks of having non-homogeneous participation in ADFs. It is suggested that the balance between a rich discussion as well as attentive reading and constant reflections, enable better learning experiences and facilitates less affected opinion formation. The results once again confirmed the value of having a safe online discussion environment. The results have implications to guide better practices using ADFs in the educational context for both the students and the instructors