Factors That Promote and Inhibit Discourse With Preservice Teachers on a Non-Restrictive, Public Web-Based Forum

Abstract

This study investigated asynchronous communication factors that influence thediscourse of preservice science teachers on a non-restrictive, public Web-based forum.Salient elements that promoted discourse among the participants included the level of interestin a topic, the immediate relevancy of a topic to a participant at a particular time, andinterpersonal factors among participants. Limitations using asynchronous communicationperceived by preservice teachers included receiving feedback too late to be of use and issuespertaining to the absence of visual cues during discourse exchanges. The linear, temporalinterface of the Web-based forum appeared to be a factor that limited the depth of thediscussion.