Interaction Repertoire in a Learning Community

ABSTRACT Information Technology enhances the possibility for people to communicate when separated in time and space. In Distance Education this means new tools for tutoring and collaboration. But what effects does IT have on the interaction between students and teachers? This paper presents results from an exploratory study of a distance education project at the University of Trollhättan Uddevalla (UTU) in Sweden. The study focuses on text-based electronic interaction that takes place within this setting. The analysis of the interaction identifies three typified interaction patterns. These are labelled Query, Feedback and Smalltalk. Together they constitute an interaction repertoire that reveals information on the collective dimension of the educational practice. They also clearly shows how geographically dispersed students pay attention to processes of mutual engagement and negotiations of their joint enterprise, thereby putting a social community into practice.