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Synthesizing Social Construction Of Knowledge In Online Conferences Using Concept Maps, Ludmila Ortegano-Layne, Charlotte Nirmalani Gunawardena

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

By using content analysis techniques to compare social construction of knowledge in online dialogues to concept maps generated to synthesize this knowledge construction, this study showed that concept maps are an effective tool to synthesize knowledge construction in online conferences. This finding was also supported by self-reported data in a moderator survey. Concept maps were also considered an effective tool for organizing information which indicates that they can be utilized as a knowledge management and preservation tool in online conferences. All students perceived that the Cmap tool software could be used as a tool to foster online collaborative learning in …