Discourse strategies and power roles in student-led distance learning


Autoria(s): Beers Fägersten, Kristy
Data(s)

2008

Resumo

The assertion of identity and power via computer-mediated communication in the context of distance or web-based learning presents challenges to both teachers and students. When regular, face-to-face classroom interaction is replaced by online chat or group discussion forums, participants must avail themselves of new techniques and tactics for contributing to and furthering interaction, discussion, and learning. During student-only chat sessions, the absence of teacher-led, face-to-face classroom activities requires the students to assume leadership roles and responsibilities normally associated with the teacher. This situation raises the questions of who teaches and who learns; how students discursively negotiate power roles; and whether power emerges as a function of displayed expertise and knowledge or rather the use of authoritative language. This descriptive study represents an examination of a corpus of task-based discussion logs among Vietnamese students of distance learning courses in English linguistics. The data reveal recurring discourse strategies for 1) negotiating the progression of the discussion sessions, 2) asserting and questioning knowledge, and 3) assuming or delegating responsibility. Power is defined ad hoc as the ability to successfully perform these strategies. The data analysis contributes to a better understanding of how working methods and materials can be tailored to students in distance learning courses, and how such students can be empowered by being afforded opportunities and effectively encouraged to assert their knowledge and authority.

Formato

application/pdf

Identificador

http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-3317

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

Högskolan Dalarna, Engelska

Umeå : Faculty Board for Teacher Education

Relação

Journal of Research in Teacher Education, 1404-7659, 2008, 15:2, s. 11-21

Direitos

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Tipo

Article in journal

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

text