INSTRUCTIONAL USE OF DISCUSSION BOARD: A CASE STUDY OF STUDENT EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS

The increasing number of college courses that mix computer technologies with traditional instruction and learning practices has created a need to understand how to use these technologies effectively. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how computer-mediated communication- discussion board can enhance learning when they are integrated with traditional instruction in a face-to-face course. A qualitative case study was conducted to focus on experiences and perceptions of students in a traditional ( face-to-face ) course that integrated use of online discussion forums. In interpreting the data, the researcher learned that online communication integrated with a face-to-face class can motivate students to participate in discussion and thus can promote learning by encouraging active engagement with content. However, according to students’ reflection, computer-mediated communication creates critical instructional design considerations and decisions.