Education Commons^™

Asynchronous Network Discussions As Organizational Scaffold Learning: Threaded Vs. Flat-Structured Discussion Boards, Chih-Hsiung Tu, Michael Blocher, Lawrence Gallagher

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Threaded and flat-structured discussions to support online learning present online educators with new and challenging dilemmas. Both formats apply different interfaces, structures and require different organization techniques for presenting postings which may affect the ways students participate. Both formats may impact online learning differently in terms of the organizational scaffold of learning. The purpose of this study was to examine experiences of online students and compare the impact that threaded and flat-structure discussion boards exerted on learning. This study concluded that both formats critically enhanced and inhibited students’ online discussions. Both formats may empower discussion participants differently and with strategic …