حجم المجموعات في جولات النقاش الإلكترونية متعددة المستويات و أثره في تنمية مستويات الفهم العميق و الحضور المعرفي لدى طلاب الدراسات العليا

Abstract EN

This study aimed to identify the effect of group size (expanding group size / reducing group size) in Multi-Levels E- discussion rounds and its effect on developing deep understanding and cognitive presence of graduate students.

A quasi-experimental approach was used to compare the two experimental groups, and according to the study experimental design, the first experimental group was exposed to the E- discussion environment with the group size expansion pattern with each discussion round, while the experimental group was exposed to the E- discussion environment with the pattern of reducing the group size with each discussion round.

The research sample consisted of (16) Graduate student in educational techniques at the Faculty of Educational graduate Studies at King Abdulaziz University, randomly distributed to the two research groups.

Two tools were developed: a deep understanding test and a measure of cognitive presence.

The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in favor of the first experimental group that was exposed to the E discussion environment with the pattern of expanding group size in both deep understanding and cognitive presence.

The research recommended the importance of diversity in designing discussion environments, going outside the circles of fixing group size, and devising qualitative methods regarding the distribution of individuals in electronic discussion environments, while setting standards and mechanisms for these designs in order to contribute to improving the outcomes of the discussion rounds