Investigation of Participation and Quality of Online Interaction

Advances in computer mediated communication technologies have sparked and continue to facilitate the proliferation of online courses, degree programs, and educational institutions. Leading the way with these advances has been the use of asynchronous discussion forums. However merely setting up a discussion forum does not always ensure quality participation and interaction. The way the course is managed has an impact on the participation as well. This paper compares the difference in course management over four study periods and discusses the resulting consequences on the participation and achievement of the students. This paper also investigates the quality of interaction as perceived by fully online students. The main benefits of this research are that it provides a guideline regarding what course management factors canmake the difference in online participation in fully online courses, and how the quality of interaction can be designed.