Realizing constructivist objectives through collaborative technologies: Threaded discussions
Donald Weasenforth, Sigrun Biesenbach-Lucas, Christine Meloni · Language learning & technology · 2002
Two crucial aspects of implementing instructional technologies effectively in language classrooms are having an understanding of the capabilities of various technologies and evaluating the usefulness of the technologies in realizing curricular goals.This paper presents a situated study --based on a prominent pedagogical framework --of the implementation of threaded discussions, a widely used instructional technology, to meet constructivist curricular objectives in university ESL classes.The authors use constructivist principles as a framework to evaluate the three-semester process of their implementation of threaded discussions to fulfill constructivist curricular goals.Of particular interest is the extent to which the technology, as mediated by the instructors, promoted selected cognitive and social skills as well as addressed affective factors and individual differences in students.