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"Why the spiral moved": Seeking for knowledge building
Citation
Paper presented at the IKIT Summer Institute on Knowledge Building: Democratizing Society's Innovative Capacity, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Aug 2006
Abstract
This paper tracks the learning experiences in science of three students using Knowledge
Forum. We examine the interaction process, in particular the seeking patterns that result
as the three students explore and build the knowledge of convection current. Using
micro-analysis of contribution on Knowledge Forum and principles of analysis of
electronic interaction and discourse proposed by Zhu (1989), this paper analyses the
forms of participation a student can assume, focusing mainly on the different forms in
which students seek information as they navigate through the sea of information posted
online. Using a grounded approach, we characterize two different ways in which students
seek for information in an online environment, which we labeled as interpersonal seeking
and collaborative seeking. We believe that the seeking behavior, albeit subtle, is
instrumental in directing learning and directing the courses of ‘discussion’ and the quality
of the knowledge that is built.
Date Issued
August 2006
Project
CRP 13/04 MO