A Summary of the Student Interviews
The interviews revealed much about how students felt about their study. Above all, it was clear that an exploration of ideas beforehand, concentrating on the rationale behind the discussion, was required. Undertaking an exchange on knowledge as property to be acquired or knowledge as something that was developed through dialogue might have helped in alleviating student anxiety that they had to “protect” knowledge once gained. While some of the students recognised the learning potential of online discussion forums, other students were not clear about the concepts of sharing in a learning community. How the exchange of knowledge worked in the online discussion also appeared to be poorly understood. Knowing what to do in an online environment will be discussed in more detail in the section following a review of the staff response to strategic approaches adopted by the students. The role of the tutor was another topic that might have been valuable to discuss. Where once knowledge was to be parcelled out, discussing the role of a tutor in an age where knowledge is far more accessible would have been enlightening for the students and a useful opportunity for them to have expressed their own opinions.