Group Dynamics and Pedagogy in Online Groups

A range of online learning environments now offers asynchronous discussion groups to facilitate student interaction with teachers and peers. Features, such as anonymity and delegated leadership offer new possibilities for learning processes. Few teachers and students are prepared for the processes that arise when the temporal dynamic and status relationships of the classroom are changed. Some beneficial characteristics of face-to-face groups transfer easily to the online class, while others appear to be lost. This paper suggests strategies for structuring the class interactions and setting conventions that enable effective learning to take place. A number of current systems are examined and compared for their ability to accommodate these structures. Group Dynamics and Pedagogy in Online Groups