This summer I conducted a review of literature focused on quantitative research regarding the relationship between online discussions and student performance. Obviously, student performance is a subjective term and it is operationally defined quite differently from study to study, but overall there is overwhelming evidence of a clear correlation between online discussions and increased student achievement.
I have written up my findings and I plan to go over some of the more interesting aspects of the research here in this blog over the next few months. But in the mean time I wanted to share one particularly interesting finding.
Building on the overwhelming evidence that women are underrepresented in traditional classroom discussions, which tend to be dominated by male voices, Caspi, Chajut, and Saporta (2006) conducted a study in which they examined the relationship between gender and participation in both face to face and online discussions. Relating overall participation to the baseline attendance ratio they were able to determine whether women were underrepresented or overrepresented in terms of their contribution to discussion in each environment.
Not surprisingly to those of us who have run class blogs ourselves, women were significantly underrepresented in face to face discussions and yet were actually overrepresented in terms of their contributions to online discussions. Why females prefer the online forum is not yet entirely clear, but the implications for anyone wishing to run an equal-opportunity classroom are obvious. Though neither is a perfect forum for discussion, providing opportunities for both types of discussion to take place in a classroom is the best way to ensure the greatest number of voices will have a chance to be heard. Relying only on old-fashioned face to face discussions in a classroom is simply not a recipe for equal participation.
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3 comments:
I have two theories as to why girls prefer the online discussion. One is the anonimity of it. Unfortunately there are still a lot of girls who think that in order to fit in socially, they can't be "smart". An online discussion let's them get there thoughts out there without it seeming like they are showing how smart they might be in the same way a live discussion would. The second theory is based on research that shows that girls use language more than boys. An online discussion allows them the time time to craft their words. Time that may not exist in a live discussion.
Just food for thought.
Stupid Fort Collins High School!!!!! ;-)
Okay, I can tell it's summer and the brain isn't working.
I do know the difference between there and their. Truly I do!
JC - thanks for the comments on my blog, I had pretty much given up even checking it because no one seemed to be keeping up with anything - so your comments were much appreciated.
Interesting thoughts on male/female interaction, it begs more research.
As of yesterday I finished my commitment to the CSUWPAI when I sent off my completed journal article for review (YEAH!). I had two smaller articles published in the state art education publication, but this recent submission was for "Art Education," better known as the big khahuna in my field.
Keep up the good work - I'd love nothing better than to be proven wrong. :)
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