Back to results

Virginia Tech

Online Teaching and Learning: Student-Student and Teacher-Student Discourse for Student Learning in Asynchronous Discussions of High School Courses

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence of student discourse in asynchronous computer-mediated communication and its relation to student learning. From in-depth investigation of teacher design, facilitation and direction for asynchronous discussion, implications for high school online instruction guidelines and the need for evaluation standards of online courses and teacher instructional practice are made. Examining student discourse provides information related to the social construction of knowledge. Teacher presence and its relation to higher levels of student discourse provides information for best practices in online teaching. This information can be used to determine specific standards and guidelines for evaluation of online instruction which can contribute to quality online high school courses. The context of this study was two high school online AP English courses. The multiple case study approach analyzed student discourse within asynchronous discussion forums and the relation to student learning outcomes. Observation of teacher facilitation and course documents were examined in relation to levels of student discourse and student learning outcomes. Triangulation of data sources included discourse analysis, interviews with teachers, and archival documents. Results from comparing and contrasting multiple cases are presented as basis for implications to guide course design, facilitation and evaluation.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Department dc:contributor.department
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2009

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Townsend, Linda Marie
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Glenn, William J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Eller, John F.
  • McCullough, Sue
  • Twiford, Travis W.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-02082009-165331
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/26149

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Townsend, Linda Marie. Online Teaching and Learning: Student-Student and Teacher-Student Discourse for Student Learning in Asynchronous Discussions of High School Courses. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26149