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Abstract
Asynchronous online discussion forums play an important role in adult online courses, and have many possible functions. Our experience in using the discussion forums in online courses for task-based collaborative discussion has led us to many questions about the optimal ways of using online discussion to support collaborative learning, such as how should instructors structure online discussions in a way that it promotes collaborative learning? What should instructors do to enhance learners' reflective thinking, critical thinking, or problem solving in online collaborative discussions? The challenges of using forum in learning have also been highlighted by many researchers. In this paper, we present a so-called “smart” discussion forum to support, monitor and facilitate task-based collaboration for the learning process of adult learners to advance their development of critical thinking.
Highlights
Online learning in open and distance learning which caters to adult learners differs from traditional face-to-face learning in many ways
In online courses for adult learners, discussion forums have been used for a variety of purposes such as to discuss general issues of the subject matter; share and obtain resources and information from each other and more importantly act as centres for groups of students who work collaboratively on task assigned to them (Gao, 2009)
Asynchronous online discussion forums play an important role in adult online courses, and have many possible functions (Dennen, 2008)
Summary
Online learning in open and distance learning which caters to adult learners differs from traditional face-to-face learning in many ways. The quality and quantity of student-student interaction and student-instructor interaction influence the quality for any course, online or face-to-face In this regard, one of the challenges to teach online is to cultivate meaningful online interactions among adult students who have diversified background (Gao, 2009). One of the challenges to teach online is to cultivate meaningful online interactions among adult students who have diversified background (Gao, 2009) To achieve this goal, the asynchronous online discussion forum is one of the most effective tools as it promotes reflection, frees learners from time and space constraints (Anderson, 1996) and provides abundant possibilities for communication. There are times, when discussions failed to achieve the preferred goal (Gao, 2009)
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