Pattern of online communication in teaching a blended oral surgery course.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the factors that might affect the patterns of interaction amongst dental students that can be found in asynchronous online discussion fora.


METHODS
It is a qualitative study that involved the participation of 71 dental students (42 male and 29 female) who belong to one academic year. Students were participated in asynchronous online discussion fora as a part of a blended oral surgery course that involved both face-to-face lecture and an online learning environment using the Blackboard learning management system. Qualitative analysis of students' pattern of discussion was performed using Transcript Analysis Tool.


RESULTS
The total number of postings was 410. Sixty-seven of 71 students participated in the discussion by writing posts, whereas all of the students had accessed all of the postings. A positive correlation between imposing vertical questions and the number of non-referential and referential statements was observed. Regarding horizontal questions, a positive correlation was observed with the number of referential statements, whilst there was a negative correlation with the number of non-referential statements.


CONCLUSIONS
Asynchronous online discussion fora that are integrated as a part of a whole pedagogical practice may provide an opportunity for promoting learning, especially when consideration is given to the structure of problems, timely feedback by tutors and supportive strategies within the discussion threads.
College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. hmarei@uod.edu.sa.|Faculty of Dentistry, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. hmarei@uod.edu.sa.
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Marei
College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
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Al-Khalifa
D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013335:Students, Dental; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching
blended learning; knowledge gain; online communication; oral surgery; problem structure