title: Facilitating help-seeking through student interactions in a WebCT online graduate study program.
abstract: This article discusses a qualitative research project that revealed how online health-care practitioners in a graduate studies program believe their primary source of help is other students in their class. The project was framed from a constructivist theoretical perspective and an action research approach. The participants were clinicians, such as advanced nurse practitioners, who graduated from a Master of Nursing or Master of Health Studies program offered exclusively through a WebCT online environment. The data sources included a program satisfaction survey, focus groups, and 10 individual audiotape-recorded and transcribed interviews. The data were collected over a 2 year period, analyzed for themes by two researchers, and confirmed with the participants through ongoing member-checking. The following four strategies to facilitate help-seeking interactions among online graduate study learners are presented: award marks for participation, encourage thoughtful, well-crafted introductions, create a coffee lounge, small group forums and private email within the course environment, and identify non-contributing students.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nursing and Health Studies, Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada. sherrim@athabascau.ca
authors.forename: Sherri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Melrose
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000458:organization & administration; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D017144:Focus Groups; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010379:Peer Group; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration