Online Case-Based Instruction: The Effects of Online Case Discussion and the Potential Influencing Factors

To explore the effects of online discussion on online case-based instruction (CBI), this study conducted a quasiexperiment to compare the learning performance measured by "problem space coverage" and learning experience of two groups of students (n=186) in a graduate level instructional design course. The empirical results show that the treatment group participating in online discussion activities showed significantly higher learning performance. Learning experience was similar between groups. In addition, investigation of the influencing factors in online CBI indicated that students' case viewing behaviors and the forum posting behaviors might lead to better learning performance.