ROLE OF ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUMS IN ENHANCING USERS’ COGNITIVE SKILLS

The study examines the role of online discussion forums (ODFs) in learning process, using Garrison, Anderson and Archer's (2000) Community Inquiry (CoI) model, particularly on development metacognitive skills, higher-order thinking skills collaborative learning, all which provide impetus for workplace such as analytical teamwork. To achieve that, adopts qualitative content analysis method to examine learners’ text submissions ODF. An ODF was set up www.easyclass.com (an management system), students were invited post their forum bi-weekly three months. A series prompts from course instructor given learners after f2f classroom interaction. designed elicit students' responses, would evidence students’ application theory practice, abstraction major ideas a text, appropriate inferences synthesis ideas, etc. findings demonstrated awareness, facilitated by asynchronous nature forum, it gives sufficient time engage thorough research careful thought before posting submission. also that peer-to-peer knowledge dissemination is best stimulated ODF, opportunities participate actively collaborate with peers process.