Understanding Participation in Online Courses: a Case Study of Online Interaction

Applying the three types of interaction and the analytical model help teaching and learning become more effective. When the instructor applied the analytical model: frequency of interaction, patterns of online interaction, the level of the learner- instructor interaction in online course increased. Furthermore, social cues encouraged learner- instructor interaction when the instructor allowed students to build rapport with their instructor and classmates in the first week of the class. When the instructor led online interaction by using the frequency of interaction and patterns of online interaction from the analytical model,it also promoted the learner-learner interaction. Moreover, using social cues in the beginning of the online course assisted students in becoming familiar with their classmates. As a result, students felt more comfortable sharing information with their fellow classmates. When instructor used cognitive and metacognitive approaches in the assignments,it assisted students to think critically and develop skills and knowledge that they can use outside of the classroom.