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...access the discussion board throughout the study periods (Nandi et al. 2011).sHowever the participant number of 67 is well above the suggested sample sizesfor grounded theoretic approach (Mason 2010; =-=Creswell 1998-=- (p.64); Morse 1994s(p.225)).s127sCourse Number ofsSurveysRespondentssStudy Levels(%)sAge Levels(%)sFirst timesOnlines(%)sUGsPG 20-30 30-40 < 20 and >40 Yes NosProg1 15 95 5 70 30 0 80 20sProg2 19 98 ...

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...nts of view that canschallenge understanding and motivate learning (Glasser & Bassok 1989);s• allowing to have a group structure that provides social support andsencouragement for individual efforts (=-=Alavi 1994-=-; Webb 1982).sRecently, Persico, Pozzi and Sarti (2010) have recognized interactivity amongstslearners and instructors as an important aspect in online learning. Onlinesinteraction among course partic...

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... (Lodico, Spaulding & Voegtle 2010; Andersons1998). Educational research attempts to solve a problem by gathering new datasfrom primary or first-hand sources or using existing data for a new purposes(=-=Anderson 1998-=-). Anderson (1998) further states that educational researchsemphasizes the development of principles or theories that will eventually help insunderstanding, prediction and/or control. Salomon (1991) s...

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...gssense of community not only increases persistence of students in onlinesprogrammes, but also enhances information flow, learning support, groupscommitment, collaboration, and learning satisfaction (=-=Dede 1996-=-; Wellmans1999). Hence students need to be encouraged to follow this practice of buildingsonline communities which ultimately leads to effective collaborative learning.s76sThe preference of the studen...

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...ort learning insvarious ways such as:s• providing an opportunity for evaluation and feedback in which studentsscan develop individual thinking and provide feedback for clarification andsmodification (=-=Dillenbourg & Schneider 1994-=-);s• providing an opportunity for exposure to alternative points of view that canschallenge understanding and motivate learning (Glasser & Bassok 1989);s• allowing to have a group structure that provi...

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...ceived that sample size should be as large as possible forsquantitative analysis. Larger and randomly selected sample size to conductsquantitative analysis ensures the generalization of the findings (=-=Austin 1983-=-). Insthe case of qualitative analysis, sample size should generally follow the conceptsof saturation i.e. when the collection of new data does not shed any further lightson the issue under investigat...