Abstract
This chapter discusses one of the key research foci of the Learning Sciences and Technologies academic group at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Based on our empirical research, we describe two vignettes that examined student cognition in computer-supported collaborative learning environment. We define student cognition as students exhibited critical thinking level and knowledge building in online discussions. In the first vignette, we describe certain discussion guidelines, as well as student facilitation techniques that could help foster in-depth levels of critical thinking in online discussion forums. In the second vignette, we examine the levels of knowledge building demonstrated by students and how these levels might be influenced by the nature of the task or activity undertaken by the students.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Bereiter, C. (1994). Constructivism, socioculturalism, and Popper’s World 3. Educational Researcher, 23(7), 21–23.
Bielaczyc, K., & Collins, A. (1999). Learning communities in classrooms: A reconceptualization of educational practice. In C. M. Reigeluth (Ed.), Instructional design theories and models (Vol. II, pp. 269–291). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Burt, M. T., Grady, M., & McMann, G. (1994). Interaction analysis of an inter-university computer conference. Paper presented at the distance learning research conference, College Station, TX.
Chai, C. S., & Tan, S. C. (2009). Professional development of teachers for computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) through knowledge building. Teacher College Records, 111(5), 1296–1327.
Cheong, M. C., & Cheung, W. S. (2008). Online discussion and critical thinking skills: A case study in a Singapore secondary school. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 24(5), 556–573.
Cheung, W. S., & Hew, K. F. (2006). Examining students’ creative and critical thinking and student to student interactions in an asynchronous online discussion environment: A Singapore case study. Asia-Pacific Cybereducation Journal, 2(2). Retrieved June 11, 2010, from http://www.acecjournal.org/current_issue_current_issue.php.
Cheung, W., & Hew, K. (2007). Use of ground rules and guidelines in online discussion: A case study. In C. Montgomerie & J. Seale (Eds.), Proceedings of world conference on educational multimedia, hypermedia and telecommunications 2007 (pp. 2753–2758). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
De Wever, B., Schellens, T., Valcke, M., & Van Keer, H. (2006). Content analysis schemes to analyze transcripts of online asynchronous discussion groups: A review. Computers and Education, 46, 6–28.
Duphorne, P. L., & Gunawardena, C. N. (2005). The effect of three computer conferencing designs on critical thinking skills of nursing students. The American Journal of Distance Education, 19(1), 37–50.
Ertmer, P. A., Richardson, J. C., Belland, B., Camin, D., Connolly, P., Coulthard, G., et al. (2007). Using peer feedback to enhance the quality of student online postings: An exploratory study. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(2), 412–433. Retrieved March 20, 2007, from http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol12/issue2/ertmer.html.
Gunawardena, C., Lowe, C., & Anderson, T. (1997). Analysis of a global online debate and the development of an interaction analysis model for examining social construction of knowledge in computer conferencing. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 17(4), 397–431.
Hew, K. F., & Cheung, W. S. (2003). Evaluating the participation and quality of thinking of pre-service teachers in an asynchronous online discussion environment: Part II. International Journal of Instructional Media, 30(4), 355–366.
Hew, K. F., Cheung, W. S., & Jumain, S. N. (2010). Critical thinking in asynchronous online discussions: Examining the role of the student facilitator. In Z. Abas et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Global Learn Asia Pacific 2010 (pp. 4210–4215). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
Jamaludin, A., & Quek, C. L. (2006). Using asynchronous online discussions in primary school project work. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 22(1), 64–87.
Kanuka, H., & Anderson, T. (1998). Online social interchange, discord, and knowledge construction. The Journal of Distance Education, 13(1), 57–74. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from http://www.jofde.ca/index.php/jde/article/view/137/412.
Khine, M. S., Yeap, L. L., & Lok, A. T. C. (2003). The quality of message ideas, thinking and interaction in an asynchronous CMC environment. Educational Media International, 40(1/2), 115–125.
Lazonder, A. W., Wilhelm, P., & Ootes, S. A. W. (2003). Using sentence openers to foster student interaction in computer-mediated learning environments. Computers and Education, 41, 291–308.
Maor, D. (2010). Examining cognitive attributes in student-teacher and student-student online interactions. In Z. Abas et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Global Learn Asia Pacific 2010 (pp. 4247–4252). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Marra, R., Moore, J., & Klimczak, A. (2004). Content analysis of online discussion forums: A comparative analysis of protocols. Educational Technology Research and Development, 52, 23–40.
McLoughlin, C., & Luca, J. (2000). Cognitive engagement and higher order thinking through computer conferencing: We know why but do we know how? In A. Herrmann & M. M. Kulski (Eds.), Flexible futures in tertiary teaching. Proceedings of the 9th annual teaching learning forum, 2–4 February 2000. Perth: Curtin University of Technology. Retrieved June 11, 2010, from http://lsn.curtin.edu.au/tlf/tlf2000/mcloughlin.html.
Pena-Shaff, J. B., & Nicolls, C. (2004). Analyzing student interactions and meaning construction in computer bulletin board discussions. Computer and Education, 42, 243–265.
Popper, K. R. (1972). Objective knowledge: An evolutionary approach. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Richardson, J. C., & Swan, K. (2003). Examining social presence in online courses in relation to students’ perceived learning and satisfaction. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 7(1), 68–88.
Scardamalia, M. (2002). Collective cognitive responsibility for the advancement of knowledge. In B. Smith (Ed.), Liberal education in a knowledge society (pp. 76–98). Chicago: Open Court.
Scardamalia, M., & Bereiter, C. (2003). Knowledge building. In J. W. Guthrie (Ed.), Encyclopedia of education (2nd ed., pp. 1370–1373). New York: Macmillan Reference.
Schellens, T., Keer, H. V., & Valcke, M. (2005). The impact of role assignment on knowledge construction in asynchronous discussion groups. Small Group Research, 36(6), 704–745.
Stahl, G. (2004). Building collaborative knowing: Elements of a social theory of CSCL. In J. W. Strijbos, P. A. Kirschner, & R. L. Martens (Eds.), What we know about CSCL: And implementing it in higher education (pp. 53–86). The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Thomas, J. (2002). Smart E-classrooms, traditional classrooms and critical thinking. In G. Richards (Ed.), Proceedings of world conference on e-learning in corporate, government, healthcare, and higher education 2002 (pp. 2288–2291). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1986). Thought and language. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Yang, Y. T. C., Newby, T. J., & Bill, R. L. (2005). Using Socratic questioning to promote critical thinking skills through asynchronous discussion forums in distance learning environments. American Journal of Distance Education, 19(3), 163–181.
Yang, Y. T. C., Newby, T., & Bill, R. (2008). Facilitating interactions through structured web-based bulletin boards: A quasi-experimental study on promoting learners’ critical thinking skills. Computers and Education, 50(4), 1572–1585.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hew, K.F., Tan, S.C., Cheung, W.S. (2012). Fostering Student Cognition in Computer-Supported Online Collaborative Learning Environment. In: Orey, M., Jones, S., Branch, R. (eds) Educational Media and Technology Yearbook. Educational Media and Technology Yearbook, vol 36. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1305-9_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1305-9_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-1304-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-1305-9
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)