Increasing Participation in Distance Learning Courses

Web-based discussion forums are key tools in online education environments. Extant studies have shown that active participation helps drive the success of these forums. The integrated participation evaluation tool (iPET) is a Web-based application combining social network analysis and visualization to enable distance learning instructors and students to improve their participation in online discourse and so improve their overall learning experience. An analysis of the results obtained in a study using iPET in a distance learning context shows that iPET increases participation and motivation in distance learning courses without increasing facilitator workload