Integrating a Web-Based Discussion Forum and Student Peer Feedback into a High-Enrollment IT Class: Expectations and Outcomes

This paper presents early results from using an asynchronous web-based discussion forum coupled with an integrated student peer rating system as one component of an Information Technology course taught in large section format. The potential for asynchronous discussions to enhance student participation and learner outcomes has previously been established (Anderson & Elloumi, 2004, Corich et al., 2004). However, providing students with pertinent feedback and assigning a graded component for student contributions remains problematic – especially for high-enrollment classes (e.g. classes with over 100 students) in which forum participation accounts for a significant portion of the overall grade in the course. To address these difficulties, an open source discussion forum was modified to include a peer rating capability inspired by consumer product rating websites such as epinions.com. Peer assessment was expected to provide more immediate and more extensive feedback than a single instructor could provide and thus increase student interest in and satisfaction with the forum. In addition, students’ accumulated ratings were used as one factor in determining forum and course participation scores.