Graduate Program
English
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Semester of Degree Completion
2012
Thesis Director
Donna Binns
Thesis Committee Member
Daiva Markelis
Thesis Committee Member
Tim Taylor
Abstract
This thesis examines the development and testing of a new collaborative learning model that uses new media informed practices to teach modem students who are familiar with today's digital learning environments. Often, modem students have difficulty learning from traditional classroom practices. The Subject-Driven Micro Discourse Community Session model is an answer to this problem for collaborative learning. The Micro Community Model, for short, engages participants in small, collaborative groups as experts that have valuable knowledge to contribute. By using organized role switching and knowledge recording techniques, the model draws on current new media attributes to appeal to student competencies and teach subject content, be it reading or writing based. Two trials conducted to test student receptivity and experience with the model illustrate that students see it as contributing to their base knowledge on a topic and allowing them to see it from multiple perspectives. Also, student responses to defined group roles and the alternation of roles show students believe the activity is a valuable form of knowledge creation and sharing. The knowledge management and recording practices, while meet with initial hesitancy, are illuminated as enabling greater subject conversation and allow for a more critical evaluation of stored knowledge. The model is then shown to adapt to multiple learning scenes and situations that occur in higher learning. However, even though students perceive the new activity as a beneficial learning tool, in order to fully realize and quantify its value, the new collaborative learning student-centered model awaits further research planned for the next phase of testing.
Recommended Citation
Gallagher, Philip Brandon, "A study in micro discourse community learning: The subject-driven micro discourse community session model" (2012). Masters Theses. 814.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/814
