The present study examines the influence of student knowledge, motivation, skill,
apprehension, and the communication medium on the degree of participation in online classroom
discussions. Regression analysis shows that student knowledge of the computer-mediated
communication (CMC) medium is the strongest predictor, β=.41. Skill in communicating
through the medium is second, β=.23. Apprehension, β= -.17, and motivation, β=.11, also affect
student participation. The medium itself has little effect, β=.01. Results suggest that teaching
students strategies for communicating in a CMC medium: coping with the reduced nonverbal
cues available, engaging with specific conversational tactics, and using instructor techniques to
reduce CMC apprehension and increase student motivation, can facilitate greater participation in
online in computer-supported, collaborative learning (CSCL) classroom environments.