IMPACTS OF ASYNCHRONOUS DISCUSSION FORUMS ON STUDENT LEARNING: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Using asynchronous discussion forums to mimic class discussion and participation has been around for some time but increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the current research on asynchronous discussion forums focuses on best practices for implementation but does not address its effectiveness on student learning. This research focuses on quantifying the impact of asynchronous discussion forums on student learning in an introductory principles of microeconomics course. An observational study using two treatments and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was used to estimate the models. The results indicate that participation in a discussion forum had little impact on student learning compared to an in-person format. The results show a boost in homework scores for upperclassmen but a negative effect on final grades for freshmen, compared to the control group. The results suggest that asynchronous discussion forums boost grades on collaborative assignments but do not translate into higher scores or improved learning on solo assignments such as exams or essays, nor does it lead to any improvement in final grades.