Supporting Student Engagement Through the Use of Various Discussion Formats in a Graduate Teacher Education Course

Authors

  • Marla J. Lohmann, Ph.D. (Author) Colorado Christian University image/svg+xml
  • Kathleen A. Boothe, Ph.D. (Author) Southeastern Oklahoma State University image/svg+xml
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.539
Discussion boards are a common component of asynchronous online courses. While many teacher preparation courses utilize traditional text-based discussion boards, university faculty are increasingly designing innovative approaches to asynchronous online discussions. There is significant research regarding the effectiveness of varied discussion formats for traditional in-person courses, but there is limited research on their use in online courses, particularly for asynchronous discussions. This manuscript presents the results of a study that investigated student participation and engagement in three different discussion formats within the same special education teacher preparation course: (a) traditional text-based, (b) jigsaw, and (c) choice-based. The researchers found that student engagement was similar in all three discussion types. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are offered.

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Lohmann, M. J., & Boothe, K. A. (2024). Supporting Student Engagement Through the Use of Various Discussion Formats in a Graduate Teacher Education Course. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 19(1), 44-53. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.539

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  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted January 3, 2024
  • Published February 15, 2024
  • Issue Winter 2024
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