A Cross-Country Comparison of Virtual Discussion Board Use in United States and Costa Rican Education Settings

The purpose of the current study was to compare the use of virtual discussion boards in various educational settings in the United States and Costa Rica. Participants included professors of education, in-service and pre-service teachers in the United States and Costa Rica where a survey was used that included demographic, knowledge, attitude, and behavioral questions regarding the use of virtual discussion boards. Results indicated that sixty-two percent of the participants used discussion boards in an educational setting. Instructors reported creating discussion board prompts that were constructivist in nature, and responses were frequently assessed for reflection, application, or collaboration. Findings show implications for educators in Costa Rica the United States due to the extensive rural landscape that perpetuates a need for alternative forms of communication and distance learning as well as to provide a comparison to how this technology is used in United States educational settings. A Cross-Country Comparison of Virtual Discussion Board Use in United States and Costa Rican Education Settings Kari Hodge, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA Terrill F. Saxon, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA Jason Trumble, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA