View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Building Community Through Discussion Forums in an Online Accelerated MLIS Program: Graduate Student Perspectives.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Building Community Through Discussion Forums in an Online Accelerated MLIS Program: Graduate Student Perspectives.
Authors: Moen, Mary H.1 (AUTHOR) mary_moen@uri.edu, Mandel, Lauren H.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Education for Information. May2026, Vol. 42 Issue 2, p138-156. 19p.
Subjects: Internet forums, Social cohesion, Graduate students, Online education, Student engagement, Information science, Asynchronous learning
Abstract: Researchers have emphasized the importance of building a sense of community in online learning, with discussion forums serving as a popular tool to support this goal. This study examines graduate students' perceptions of using discussion forums to foster community in an asynchronous, accelerated online Master of Library and Information Studies program at a public university in the Northeast United States. A total of 71 students completed the Classroom Community Scale Short Form, along with additional open-ended survey questions. Statistical and content analyses were conducted, including cross-tab analyses by students' stage in the program (early, mid-point, and near completion). Findings suggest that while most students generally dislike discussion forum activities, their sense of community increases over time in the program. Informality, instructor engagement, and the design of forum activities appear to be key factors in promoting a stronger sense of community. This study is relevant as accelerated online programs continue to grow in popularity. Understanding how to effectively build a sense of community in a condensed time frame can inform the practices of instructors and course designers, ultimately benefiting online students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Education for Information is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 192476615
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Building Community Through Discussion Forums in an Online Accelerated MLIS Program: Graduate Student Perspectives.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moen%2C+Mary+H%2E%22">Moen, Mary H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> mary_moen@uri.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mandel%2C+Lauren+H%2E%22">Mandel, Lauren H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Education+for+Information%22">Education for Information</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 42 Issue 2, p138-156. 19p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Internet+forums%22">Internet forums</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+cohesion%22">Social cohesion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+students%22">Graduate students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Online+education%22">Online education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+engagement%22">Student engagement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+science%22">Information science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asynchronous+learning%22">Asynchronous learning</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Researchers have emphasized the importance of building a sense of community in online learning, with discussion forums serving as a popular tool to support this goal. This study examines graduate students' perceptions of using discussion forums to foster community in an asynchronous, accelerated online Master of Library and Information Studies program at a public university in the Northeast United States. A total of 71 students completed the Classroom Community Scale Short Form, along with additional open-ended survey questions. Statistical and content analyses were conducted, including cross-tab analyses by students' stage in the program (early, mid-point, and near completion). Findings suggest that while most students generally dislike discussion forum activities, their sense of community increases over time in the program. Informality, instructor engagement, and the design of forum activities appear to be key factors in promoting a stronger sense of community. This study is relevant as accelerated online programs continue to grow in popularity. Understanding how to effectively build a sense of community in a condensed time frame can inform the practices of instructors and course designers, ultimately benefiting online students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Education for Information is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=192476615
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/01678329251390388
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 138
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Internet forums
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social cohesion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduate students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Online education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student engagement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information science
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Asynchronous learning
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Building Community Through Discussion Forums in an Online Accelerated MLIS Program: Graduate Student Perspectives.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Moen, Mary H.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mandel, Lauren H.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 01678329
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 42
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Education for Information
              Type: main
ResultId 1