Le forum de discussion en formation : un espace potentiel d’accès au rapport qu’entretient autrui avec les objets d’apprentissage

Abstract

This research focuses on the discussion forum, a space for asynchronous communication at distance. Using the discussion forum as part of open and distance learning systems in vocational training, is a growing activity because it is considered as a place offering interesting pedagogical possibilities. Based on the difference between what the designers of these learning systems expect and what can be observed on these forums, we have chosen to approach this social subject from a perspective which is fairly uncommon in other works in this field. Indeed, we focus on the concept of activity and consider contributing to the forum as a situated practice. Our research goal is to identify how the forum constitutes a meditation system which generates activities likely to produce learning. We use professional didactics and mediation theories as a basis for our work. This paper addresses the forum situation, a work situation into which learners are integrated. Thus, the methodological choices are in line with the methods used to analyze situations at work; they establish a distinction between task and activity and during interviews, confront learners with the traces of their activity.In the forum we studied, the learners’ activity is only mildly consistent with the prescribed tasks. This being said, the forum does seem to be an ideal place to gain access to the way in which others relate to the learning objects. If we take this into consideration it serves as a form of mediation to build, strengthen or re-examine the relationship to learning objects and to control a mutual understanding of them.

Keywords

• professional didactics
• activity
• learning
• mediation
• discussion forum
• agriculture