Virtual interactions in learning forums: A postgraduate experience

Abstract

The aim of this work is to explore and define how knowledge is generated in a collaborative way through the interactions produced in two official postgraduate modules' forums, taught in online and blended modalities. The conducted study holds both qualitative and quantitative approaches, following a case study methodology. The 505 messages sent in the forums of the selected modules have been analyzed implementing the Community of Inquiry framework for the discourse analysis in the Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN). Through the application of the system of categories and subcategories in which the model is developed, evidence of the existence of the three dimensions described in it: social presence, cognitive presence and teaching presence, have been found in the two modules, as well as the type of interactions produced. The results also highlight the influence of the activities' design on the type of interaction regarding knowledge construction, and the participants' modality (online and blended), which modifies the way of relating with an increase in the social presence.