Author's Keywords: active learning, online discussions, learner outcomes	Convention All Academic Convention can solve the abstract management needs for any association's annual meeting. Submission - Custom fields, multiple submission types, tracks, audio visual, multiple upload formats, automatic conversion to pdf. Review - Peer Review, Bulk reviewer assignment, bulk emails, ranking, z-score statistics, and multiple worksheets! Reports - Many standard and custom reports generated while you wait. Print programs with participant indexes, event grids, and more! Scheduling - Flexible and convenient grid scheduling within rooms and buildings. Conflict checking and advanced filtering. Communication - Bulk email tools to help your administrators send reminders and responses. Use form letters, a message center, and much more! Management - Search tools, duplicate people management, editing tools, submission transfers, many tools to manage a variety of conference management headaches! Click here for more information.
Association: Name: APSA Teaching and Learning Conference URL: http://www.apsanet.org
Citation: URL: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p101412_index.html Direct Link: HTML Code:

Hamann, Kerstin., Pollock, Philip. and Wilson, Bruce. "Measuring Active Learning: Discussion Participation in Online Classes" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC, Feb 18, 2006 <Not Available>. 2009-05-25 <http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p101412_index.html>

Hamann, K. , Pollock, P. H. and Wilson, B. M. , 2006-02-18 "Measuring Active Learning: Discussion Participation in Online Classes" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC Online <PDF>. 2009-05-25 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p101412_index.html

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript Abstract: Discussion is one form of active learning, which has been linked to better learner outcomes. Little is known about the relationship between active learning through discussion and learner outcome in the online environment. Here, we construct an index of active learning online that includes the number of postings a student has read, the number of direct responses a student has posted, and how many meaningful �in-depth� statements a student has made. We link this index to course grade as a proxy for learner outcome and find that active learners perform better, on average, than the less active students. We also analyze the component indicators of the index and find that the number of postings read is most closely related to course grade. This is particularly true for those students who came into the class with a lower GPA. We conclude that online courses can stimulate active learning through discussion. Furthermore, we point to the importance of measurement of active learning in any assessment effort and argue that the individual components of active learning behavior through discussions might have a differential effect on learner outcomes.

Does Active Learning Enhance Learner Outcomes?: Evidence from Discussion Participation in Online Classes

Active Learning through Reading and Writing in Online Discussion Boards: Assessing the Effects on Learner Outcomes