Learning from Each Other: Dialogic Argumentation in an Online Academic Environment

31 Pages Posted: 22 Aug 2013

See all articles by Anita Chadha

Anita Chadha

University of Houston - Downtown

Renée B. Van Vechten

University of Redlands

Date Written: 2013

Abstract

How do online discussions promote learning? Under what conditions do students learn in asynchronous discussion-based forums? This paper builds upon research exploring how an online academic social networking site can provide an environment in which students engage in dialogic argumentation by voicing their diverse perspectives, challenging their peers through counterarguments, and articulating their differences. Focusing mainly on process where the unit of analysis is the written discourse rather than individual student characteristics and learning outcomes, our data is drawn from an academic website populated by three undergraduate classes in Spring 2012 and Spring 2013. We perform content analysis on 375 peer-to-peer responses contained in asynchronous, online discussion forums established by professors. By closely examining argumentative interactions, we find mixed evidence of learning. About half of all interactions do not contain argumentative elements; on the other hand, about half do provide tools necessary for students to build knowledge through arguing with each other in an online environment.

Suggested Citation

Chadha, Anita and Van Vechten, Renée B, Learning from Each Other: Dialogic Argumentation in an Online Academic Environment (2013). APSA 2013 Annual Meeting Paper, American Political Science Association 2013 Annual Meeting, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2303544

Anita Chadha

University of Houston - Downtown ( email )

1001 main street
North 1030
Houston, TX 77001
United States

Renée B Van Vechten (Contact Author)

University of Redlands ( email )

PO Box 3080
Redlands, CA 92373-0999
United States

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