An evaluation of selected pedagogical attributes of online discussion boards

Abstract

Technology has for long been used as a pedagogical aid in learning. While technology has numerous ways of providing pedagogical assistance, the current paper attempts to focus on online discussion boards as a pedagogical tool in an elearning environment. The paper highlights some of the pedagogical attributes of online asynchronous discussion boards that do not exist in a traditional classroom learning environment. Based on ideas emphasised in literature, the paper lists learner centricity, asynchronous interaction, communication effectiveness and assessment facilitation as the major pedagogical attributes of online discussion boards. Even as technological innovations continue to evolve alternative pedagogical tools, discussion boards continue to play a significant role in the learning facilitation process. The paper also discusses the strategy of applying data mining techniques to aid assessment of discussion board transcripts. Text mining as an extension of data mining algorithm could be used effectively to assess discussion board transcripts with the goal of eliminating subjectivity in the assessment of discussion board contributions.