More Than Words

As more courses in teacher education are offered online, it is imperative that we thoughtfully consider how we structure learning activities. This study turned a critical gaze on a common element of online courses—asynchronous discussion. The authors compared two models of discursive interaction—discussion boards versus blogs— to better understand if the way discussions were structured affected the virtual learning community. Through this comparative mixed-method research and layered analysis, the authors discovered that the format of the discussions altered the patterns of discourse, affected student engagement, and contributed differently to the development of learning communities. Having this awareness can enable us to create more effective online learning experiences for students.