Understanding online peer-assisted learning with forums in the “digital era”

The relationship between engagement in peer-assisted learning forums and students’ performance in a second-year undergraduate economics course is examined. Forum engagement is measured using three Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) metrics: total views, message count, and message word count. A significant positive correlation between forum activity and academic performance is found; student participation is selective, and engagement patterns vary by nationality. Further, the relationship between message types and performance is analyzed through text analysis linking forum content to key learning dimensions. Results show most posts are associated with cognitive and meta-cognitive learning, although social and interactive dimensions play important roles. These results highlight the value of VLEs that foster active and interactive learning; such platforms can enhance academic performance while facilitating the acquisition of transferable skills.