While e-mail may be an indicator of growth in a writing environment, the threaded discussion commonly used within a distance learning environment may tell us something about conceptualization of ideas in other courses or programs. Threaded discussion is typically used in association with Web-based learning. A question or proposition is posted and the student is expected to respond to that question. Once a response is posted, it is filed away by student name and is dated. The next student may respond to the original proposition or the student posting.
All students can read and post comments.
This continuous growing of ideas only stops when the students feel the proposition is exhausted. Branching ideas may be posted by students or by the instructor. These branching ideas may reflect an understanding of the concepts presented or indicate a need for further basic information. Thus, analysis of the growth illustrated in the threaded discussion is another instrument of evaluation. As mentioned above, the depth of understanding, the application of principals and the sharing of information can be used as evaluation of instruction.