Interactions in online discussion forums - an underutilized resource for learning?

This work-in progress research paper addresses how the discussion forums in online courses are made useful to promote students’ learning. This qualitative study investigates the interactions between learners, as well as between learners and teachers in MOOCs. Community of Inquiry was used as an analytical framework to unveil how the discussions made in the online environment may connect to the course participants’ learning processes. Preliminary findings indicate that the interactions taking place in the discussion forums primarily concerns issues regarding course structure. Very few posts concern challenging reasoning or, conversations that may support learners to deepen their understanding of the subject matter at hand.