The Study: This study consisted of 8 out of 13 graduate students taking a discourse class. The purpose of the study was to measure the students different levels of uniqueness seeking and see how students who have different for uniqueness will perform in an online discussion for collaborative meaning-making.
My Thoughts: Who knew that this article would be so relevant at this time? During this pandemic we’ve had to make the shift from in-person classes to online classes. Some people take to online learning, while others may struggle a little. Either way I don’t think that the experience of online learning or having online discussions, is the same as being in person.
This study not only had me thinking about my own “uniqueness-seeking needs” but also those of my students. There are many pros and cons in our current situation. For example, in my classes there are students who were too shy to be called on now contributing to discussions more. I also see students who were very easily distracted in class, now being in their own homes working diligently online, completing assignments and handing them in on time. On the negative side, it has become increasingly difficult to gauge whether or not students fully grasp the material, and some students are slacking.
The article itself was simple and confusing at the same time (if that makes any sense). The article was simplistic an easy to read, but some of their methods and findings were difficult to understand. They accounted for many things such as gender and culture, but I think there are many more factors surrounding individual students that should have been included.
Composition Studies: Research and Methods 