A Design-Based Study for Development of a Model for a Successful Online Discussion Forum

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the curtains of many important tools that can be used for online learning. Online discussion forum (ODF) is one of these tools. An online discussion forum is a web-based application that brings people together alongside shared interests and mindsets. The use of ODF has been identified as an important activity for engaging students besides the educational units or assignments (Balaji & Charkrabarti, 2010). Due to the current situation of lock-down and social distancing, many educational institutions have shifted to online learning. This raises the need for a deeper understanding of the available tools that may foster the students’ engagement and learning. Therefore, it is important to identify the success factors for the implementation of online discussion forums, especially due to a scarcity of literature on this topic.

Online discussion allows types of interactions that are difficult to achieve with other learning activities. Previous research confirmed the importance of online discussion for the quality of students’ learning experience and showed that online discussions provide a medium for learning which promotes increased student engagement, satisfaction, critical analysis and reflection, and the social construction of knowledge (Chang, et al, 2015, Zhao, 2016 & Delaney, D, 2019).). However, two main challenges face online discussions: 1) insufficient or inappropriate contribution of the participants (Hew, et al, 2010), and 2) lack of critical analysis and reflection in discussions (Garrison & Cleveland-Innes, 2005).

Although several previous studies have investigated the factors and importance of online discussion in online programs, (Gerosa, et al, 2010, Ulrich & Nedelcu, 2015, Liu, et al,2016, Lima, et al, 2019), most of these studies include a list of advantages, challenges, and strategies. However, there is a need for further research to address the uncertainty about the factors that may lead to the success or failure of this vital activity, as to our knowledge no study has primarily focused on identifying success factors, strategies, and suggested a possible design for implementation.

Moreover, the potential role of e-mentoring in the context of online discussion forums deserves further attention yet is underexplored in the literature. Virtual mentoring becomes a popular tool nowadays because it can provide a flexible and convenient method of communication between mentor and mentee in comparison to what traditional mentoring offers (Ramani, et al,2020). The main advantage of e-mentoring is the flexibility in time and space. E-mentoring can offer an economical and environmentally friendly way of mentoring according to the participants' time; it may reduce the mentors’ and mentees’ feeling of discomfort and it can provide quick supportive information or help (Rowland, 2012). Thus, merging e-mentoring with online discussions may improve the quality and performance of students in online discussions.

Accordingly, the current study contributes to this research stream to identify the key factors from the instructors’ point of view that should be present for a successful online discussion and construct a new design to improve the quality of the online discussion. By investigating an intervention in a specific educational setting, three research questions are addressed:

• 1.

  How to design a successful online discussion?

• 2.

  What are the success factors to design and implement online discussion forums?

• 3.

  What is the effect of implementing e-mentorship on online discussion forums?

Background

Communication is an important part of the excellence of online learning (Bakharia A, Dawson S., 2011, Koutropoulos A, et al,2012). Forums enable facilitators to realize and intercede in teaching and learning activities (Jiang Z, et al,2015, Stephens-Martinez K, et al,2014), and students have time to contemplate and frame answers. Learners jointly build up understanding while collaborating in an online milieu (Gilbert, PK., & Dabbagh N., 2005). A well-organized educational forum is an important instrument to endorse contemplation on learning, impart information and perspectives, and unite learners (Benbunan-Fich R., Hiltz. SR., 1999). Forums can encounter both periods of sluggishness and sporadic flurries of posts (Filippo D, Fuks, H., de Lucena, CJP., 2009). Without proper input, a low level of cognitive commitment happens, and learners may feel cut off (Abawajy, J., & Kim, T.,2011) that can lead to inadequate contribution or absence of deepness and excellence of the discussion (Watson, A.,2008).