The qualitatively different ways in which students (a) approach learning across different learning contexts, that is, through face-to-face and online discussion and (b) conceive of learning through discussion in general,
and The relationships between students’ approaches to learning through face-to-face and online discussion, their conceptions of learning through discussion and their academic performance (as captured by final course marks).
2. Method
2.1. Research context
The context of the study was a 3rd year undergraduate course in Foreign Policy at a large research-intensive metropolitan Australian university.
The course was designed as a blended learning experience with tutorials incorporating face-to-face and online discussion.Specifically, the tutorials were structured around face-to-face discussion for a number of sessions followed by sessions of asynchronous online discussion.
In the face-to-face tutorials, one student prepared a presentation on a designated topic, followed by discussion around the topic.
Specific readings and a set of questions were given to the class for each topic.
The structure of online tutorials was similar, except that in each week one student led the tutorial with a 500 word presentation and also e-moderated the other students’ responses.
The students were required to contribute a minimum of two posts (of 200 words) based on their understanding of the recommended readings for the topic.
As mentioned in the Introduction, one of the pedagogical justifications for using blended learning on this course was to provide students with an opportunity to discuss topics in class and then engage in further discussion and reflection online, in between classes.
The teacher wanted to “hear” more students than was possible in a classroom-only model and wanted to give students different opportunities to express their thoughts about what were often complex and sensitive issues (e.g., the “War on Terror”, Australia’s involvement in Iraq,
AsiaPacific diplomatic relationships, etc.)
2.2. Participants
Of the 63 undergraduate students enrolled in the course, 59 completed the open-ended questionnaires. The same issues from the questionnaire were explored at a deeper level with 20 of the participants in semi-structured interviews.
Some participants who volunteered for the interviews did not actually complete the open-ended questionnaires, so the total number of responses analysed was 63.
2.3. Interviews and questionnaires
Both the questionnaires and interviews were designed around a number of core questions, aimed at exploring participants’ approaches to face-to-face and online discussion, and their conceptions of learning through discussion:
What do you think is the purpose of discussion in your unit of study, foreign policy? (Conceptions of learning in the course)
How do you approach learning through discussion in class?
What do you do and Why do you do those things?
(Approaches to face-to-face discussion)
How do you approach learning through discussions online?
What do you do and why do you do those things?
(Approaches to online discussion)
The structure of the interviews was similar to the open-ended questionnaires, with the added benefit that issues of interest arising while talking to the participants could be probed and further explored through follow-up questioning.
2.4. Method of analysis