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Exploring the Functioning of an Informal Online English Learning Community for GRE Preparation in China

Sun, Yanyan
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1416441875

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Instructional Technology (Education).
This study explored how the GRE Analytical Writing Section Discussion Forum, an informal online language learning community in China, functioned to support its members to improve their English writing proficiency. The Community of Inquiry (CoI) model was used as the theoretical framework to explore the existence of teaching presence, cognitive presence, and social presence in the GRE Analytical Writing Section Discussion Forum. A mix-methods research design was applied to address the research questions. The transcript analysis of postings in the GRE Analytical Writing Section Discussion Forum was used to find the existence of teaching, cognitive presence, and social presence, and an adapted CoI survey was sent to members to measure their perceived teaching, cognitive, and social presences. The results showed strong evidences of teaching presence, cognitive presence, and social presence, and high levels of perceived teaching, cognitive, and social presences in the GRE Analytical Writing Section Discussion Forum. The well-designed technological environment, distributed teaching presence shared by moderators and members, and extensive evidences of social presence in the discussion forum worked together to support learning in the GRE Analytical Writing Section Discussion Forum.
Teresa Franklin (Committee Chair)
David Moore (Committee Member)
Fei Gao (Committee Member)
Gregory Kessler (Committee Member)
162 p.
Education; Educational Technology
Informal online learning community; Informal learning; GRE preparation; Community of Inquiry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sun, Y. (2014). Exploring the Functioning of an Informal Online English Learning Community for GRE Preparation in China [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1416441875

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sun, Yanyan. Exploring the Functioning of an Informal Online English Learning Community for GRE Preparation in China. 2014. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1416441875.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sun, Yanyan. "Exploring the Functioning of an Informal Online English Learning Community for GRE Preparation in China." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1416441875

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1416441875
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.