Development and Analysis of Web-based Discussion System for Elementary School Students

This study develops a web-based discussion system applying Hill’s group cognitive map. We apply it to elementary school students and analyze the learning effects. Web-based discussion allows learners to actively participate in learning activities. It can facilitate multiple opportunities for learner-oriented interactions in web-based environments. Most web-based discussions occur through bulletin boards and data directories with the intention of creating basic communication exchanges among learners. Many instructional systems, however, are not built on rigorous, theoretically sound platforms. To avoid this trend and if we expect effective learning processes to consistently take place, the development of web-based discussion systems should be based on instructional models that are proven to be theoretically sound and effective in this environment. This decision could greatly influence the systems that are developed for online discussion. In an effort to contribute positively to the literature of web-based instruction, this study proposes the development of a web-based discussion system with Hill's Group Cognitive Map and presents the practical effects of the system such as the learners’ interest, capabilities for communication, and learning outcomes. The learning resources space was very useful for their learning. Seventy percent of the learners responded that learning through the web-based discussion system was effective. The students actively participated in team discussions on relevant themes in the instant messenger room. Those results could be obtained through the implementation of the system in an elementary school in South Korea.