Design Of Online Discussion Activities For Blended Learning Based On Social Constructivism

In China,more and more colleges and universities are taking blended learning as one of the solutions to improve the integration of education and information communication technology.Blended learning could combine the advantages of online learning with traditional learning,make full use of existing learning resources,and improve learners' performance.As one of the basic forms of online learning activities,online discussion is an interactive mode of debating,demonstrating or exchanging opinions for an event,a problem,or a topic,etc.In online learning activities of blended learning,learners should be given sufficient resources and technical support,with the goal of promoting the interaction between teachers and students,and enhancing the knowledge construction level of learners.In this research,through classroom observation and literature research on online discussion activities of blended learning,it is found that there is a problem of insufficient knowledge construction of learners,and inadequate connection between online activities and offline activities.To address these issues,this research proposes a framework for online discussion strategies for blended learning based on social constructivist theory,and specific online discussion activities for blended learning are designed and implemented based on the strategy framework.Centered on the learner,from the perspective of social constructivism,firstly,the core and supporting elements of the online discussion activity in blended learning are determined.Based on the principles of the design,online learning activity strategies of declarative knowledge discussion guided by teacher,procedural knowledge discussion by learners' collaboration and strategic knowledge discussion via teacher-student cooperation are generated,which are consequently implemented in blended learning.Through qualitative and quantitative observation on the online discussion activities,the effectiveness of the strategies was verified: the integration mechanism have improved the effective connection between online activities and offline activities;the strategies in line with the attributes of knowledge,with the appropriate hosts,being provided with sufficient technical services,guidance resources and consulting services can effectively promote the learners' knowledge construction level.Through on-going modification and improvement for strategies,the strategies of online discussion activities in blended learning are summarized.The research results may enrich the theory of blended learning activities and may provide reference for the design of online discussion activities in blended learning.