Patterns and Perceptions of Asynchronous Video Discussion in a Graduate Health Sciences Course.

BACKGROUND

Studies of graduate online education indicate a need for increased interaction among students and faculty. However, it can be challenging to foster a high level of scholarly interaction and engagement in fully online courses. The objective of this study was to evaluate student perceptions and participation patterns related to online, asynchronous video discussion in a graduate health sciences course.

METHOD

An asynchronous video discussion was piloted in a 2014 interprofessional informatics course and students were subsequently surveyed to determine their perceptions of this approach. Participation patterns were analyzed using descriptive statistics and social network analysis.

RESULTS

The results indicate broad and inclusive interaction among students and faculty, with discussion characteristics perceived as equivalent to, or better than, traditional classroom discussion. The quality of student participation was high, and students spent additional time researching and preparing their contributions.

CONCLUSION

This format for a seminar-style discussion holds good potential for effective teaching and learning in online graduate-level health courses and supports the development of students' critical thinking and scholarly communication skills. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(12):706-710.].