Building an Online Learning Community
http://orange.eserver.org/issues/3-3/mcdowell_trunzo_vincent.html

McDowell, Mindi, Stephanie Trunzo and Kristin Vincent
Orange Journal, The
2003

Abstract:

We decided to explore alternative methods for incorporating discussion into a distance-learning course in an attempt to facilitate the sense of community found in more traditional classrooms. Our goal through this study was to uncover factors that enable and hinder discussion between students in online learning environments and to determine whether the level of class discussion leads to an increased sense of community.