Graduate Online Pedagogy

Abstract

Guided by research, thoughtfully designed online spaces can promote critical reflection of content among students. This chapter addresses the use of a purposefully designed academic website as a means to engage graduate students with each other, their advisor, and with their research. Using a mixed methods approach, student peer exchanges were evaluated on a collaborative website among students, and this study concluded that websites built with the specific purpose for academic peer deliberation create spaces where students can dialogue and learn from each other. Multiple levels of engagement were found in that students deliberate, challenge, clarify, and defend their positions while pushing their peers to do the same. This chapter provides evidentiary proof that online spaces using a peer interactive design can simulate a graduate seminar where content is academically deliberated while building relationships with peers, their advisor, and providing a space for vigorous research, each of these necessary components in graduate education.