Project RITE
Enhancing Student Discussion Board Participation
in Online Professional Development Courses
Download final report: PDF
Duren Thompson
Program Coordinator, Center for Literacy Studies, UT KnoxvilleFinal Report Excerpt
The preliminary findings of this study provide further evidence that techniques designed to increase a sense of community can positively affect outcomes in asynchronous online learning environments. The present work examines the effectiveness of low-cost techniques (photos, online e-meeting and revisions to discussion board prompts) for increasing a ‘sense of community’ in online courses in order to increase discussion board participation and thus positive learner outcomes in asynchronous online professional development courses. Subjects consist of 58 adult education professionals who voluntarily enrolled in a 12 hour, 6 week online course offered by the Center for Literacy Studies and the Tennessee Division of Adult Education over the past three years. Modifications seem to have had a positive effect on course completion rates and timeliness of discussion board posts, although participant satisfaction, perceptions of the learning experience and content mastery seem unaffected. Course facilitators’ reflections indicate significant benefits from participation in the research processes, resulting in plans for significant course revisions.