Good Quality Discussion is Necessary but Not Sufficient in Asynchronous Tuition: A Brief Narrative Review of the Literature

Authors

  • William James Fear Birkbeck Department of Organizational Psychology Birkbeck College University of London Malet Street London w.fear@bbk.ac.uk
  • Andrew Erikson-Brown Department of Organizational Psychology Birkbeck College University of London Malet Street London

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v18i2.399

Keywords:

Asynchronous discussion, narrative review

Abstract

Online learning is a growing field of education with a corresponding increase in the use of asynchronous discussion. Asynchronous discussion is a form of interaction that is mediated rather than direct and where there is a time lag in the interactions between discussants. In this paper we conducted a brief narrative review of the literature on asynchronous discussion. We argue, initially, that discussion is necessary, but not sufficient, for successful pedagogic outcomes and more so in the case of online learning. We identified agreement in the literature on what can be considered the key factors for successful asynchronous discussion.

Author Biographies

William James Fear, Birkbeck Department of Organizational Psychology Birkbeck College University of London Malet Street London w.fear@bbk.ac.uk

William James Fear is a Chartered Psychologist who practices in organization, work and business psychology. Prior to returning to academia with an ESRC/SAMS Fellowship he held a number of management positions in industry. His research interests are in the role of language and narrative in social settings, including institutions, organizations, groups, and professions

Andrew Erikson-Brown, Department of Organizational Psychology Birkbeck College University of London Malet Street London

Andrew Eriksen-Brown is an Occupational Psychologist with eleven years experience of teaching post-graduate distance learning courses involving asynchronous tuition. His research interests focus on executive pay and the motivational consequences of wage differentials.

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Published

2014-06-18

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2014)

Section

Online Discussion Analyses

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