The Impact of Discussion in a Virtual Learning Environment

The impact of discussion in a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Blackboard, on subsequent coursework grades was examined with 177 students to determine whether asking questions of the tutor on-line, and/or reading the questions and their answers, influenced the grades on the assignment they were discussing. Students who never used Blackboard got significantly lower grades on the assignment (4% less) than the students who used it. There was a positive relationship between the number of messages read and the grade achieved on the assignment. Students who read the most discussion board posts wrote significantly better reports (62%) than those who read none at all (55%), and students who asked question(s) also ended up with significantly better grades. The grades on the assignment with Blackboard available were significantly higher than those on the previous assignment (when it was unavailable), indicating that student learning was occurring through the on-line discussion.

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