Sharpening the focus: methodological issues in analysing on-line conferences

Abstract As on-line discussion becomes an increasingly important and significant aspect of teachers' professional education, most particularly as part of distance learning environments, there is a need to understand and develop effective analytic techniques that provide insights into the processes at work within these systems. The computer conferencing environment at the centre of this study is a complex, unstructured discussion forum, of a type increasingly found as a component of continuing professional development courses. In these situations the evidence of knowledge building processes is a key concern. This study concentrates on a close examination of some existing analytic tools and considers their contribution to identifying the processes at work within these on-line environments, as teachers discuss aspects of education.