Interaction is in your mind, not in your mouse.

— Thiagi

Presentation Part I (20 mins)

Discussion (10 mins)

Presentation Part II (20 mins)

Discussion (10 mins)

Designing Meaningful Online Interaction

Fei Gao

Michigan State University

March 2009

Technology

Bad TeachingGood Teaching

Why Interaction?

Social Interaction plays a fundamental role in the development of cognition.

(Vygotsky, 1978)

Ineffective Interaction

Interaction is meaningful when

it leads to learning.

In Reality…

Problem?

Solution?

Example I

(Collison, Elbaum, Haavind, & Tinker, 2000)

“right on”“me too!”

“nice post”

“I could not have

said it better”

“well done”

“I agree”

“I agree”

“that was a good post”

“me 3!”

“I agree”

(Larson & Keiper, 2002)

( Palinscar & Brown, 1984; Pressley, 2000)

SelfExplanation

Adjunct Question

(Chi et al., 1989; Andre, 1979; Anderson & Biddle, 1975)

A Text-Focused Discussion Environment

A Text-Focused Discussion Environment

A Text-Focused Discussion Environment

A Comparative Study

New Environment Threaded Forum

P<.05

Total Number of Posts

P<.05

Total Number of Words

P<.05

Percentage of Text-Focused Posts

“ [The new environment] was much easier to stay on topic, ask any questions, or add any discussion

points within the article.”

P<.05

Percentage of Posts on General Issues

“In [the new environment], we're a bit more restricted to what we are supposed to discuss. I mean in the forums, we had a general discussion board, where anything could be brought up.”

Quiz Scores

P<.05

New EnvironmentThreaded Forum

4.394.03

So Far…

Example II

(Ladousse, 1987; Ments, 1989)

Anxiety

(Mellings & Alden, 2000)

3D Immersive World

VS

Face-to-Face Environment

Role-Play in the Face-to-Face Environment

1. So, why did you not do very well on the exam today?2. Umm…My grade dropped because before

when you guys have the special chart I felt that it helps me see how well my grade was, and I have confident, you know…Umm…I had a lot of stars…on the chart. My grade will be good but you dropped that, and I didn’t have any confidence. 3. In order to move on your

progress, you know, you need to do the stuff that is, you know, suggested.

4. Okay. Guess you should go talk to Student B about why his grade dropped.

Role-Play in the 3D world

1: Juliet, what's the matter?

2: I can’t do it. 3. Well, you should really try!

4. I don’t understand the problem.

5.You have to put in some effort to get a result.

6. I don’t know where to start...

7. Don't run away from your problems. Let's read the directions.

How much did they talk?

p>.05

Average number of Words

How frequently did they take turns?

Average Number of Turn-Taking

p<.005

Did the students learn equally?

Role-play in 3D immersive world is more interesting.

And how are we supposed

to pronounce this again?

And how are we supposed

to pronounce this again?

“I'm quite shy so I did have the opportunity to lead

people without feeling too forward or aggressive (in the

Second Life). “I'm a bit shy, it was easier to role play (in the Second Life)”

“(In Second Life,) it is a little easier to say some things when you are talking over the internet.”

“(In Second Life,) I didn't feel embarrassed by what I said because I didn't have to say anything face to face. I felt like I could open up more.”

How to

designing

meaningful online interaction?

Understand

the Problem

Understand the

Affordances and Constraints

of the Technology

Be Creative !

How to

meaningful online interaction?

Want to know more about me?

Go here: http://www.msu.edu/~gaofei1/

Want to continue the discussion?

Go here: http://meaningfulinteraction.ning.com/

Want to email me?

Email: gaofei1@msu.edu

Want to know more about me?

Go here: http://www.msu.edu/~gaofei1/

Want to continue the discussion?

Go here: http://meaningfulinteraction.ning.com/

Want to email me?

Email: gaofei1@msu.edu