Technical writing and communication

Abstract

This study attempts to find appropriate interaction analysis/content analysis techniques that assist in examining the negotiation of meaning and co-construction of knowledge in collaborative learning environments facili- tated by computer conferencing. The authors review strengths and short- comings of existing interaction analysis techniques and propose a new model based on grounded theory building for analyzing the quality of CMC inter- actions and learning experiences. This new Interaction Analysis Model for Examining Social Construction of Knowledge in Computer Conferencing was developed after proposing a new definition of "interaction" for the CMC context and after analyzing interactions that occurred in a Global Online Debate. The application of the new model for analysis of collaborative con- struction of knowledge in the online debate and in a subsequent computer conference are discussed and future research suggested.