Earnshaw2017

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Earnshaw2017
BibType ARTICLE
Key Earnshaw2017
Author(s) Yvonne Earnshaw
Title Navigating Turn-Taking and Conversational Repair in an Online Synchronous Course
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Synchronous, Audio conference, Repair, Turn-taking, CMC
Publisher
Year 2017
Language English
City
Month
Journal Online Learning
Volume 21
Number 4
Pages 315-336
URL Link
DOI 10.24059/olj.v21i4.1029
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
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Howpublished
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Abstract

In face-to-face conversations, speaker transitions (or hand-offs) are typically seamless. In computer mediated communication settings, speaker hand-offs can be a bit more challenging. This paper presents the results of a study of audio communication problems that occur in an online synchronous course, and how, and by whom, those problems are resolved. Data were collected from chat transcripts and audio transcripts from a graduate level discourse and conversation analysis course that used WebEx, an audioconferencing software application that also has a chat channel. Using a conversational analysis approach, data were analyzed to identify when speaker hand-offs occurred to determine related patterns of confirmation strategies and repair sequences. Findings showed several different approaches to smooth speaker hand-offs. In cases where hand-offs were not smooth, corrections were attempted by either fixing the problem or moving on. There were also instances in which parties encountered technical difficulties with the audio or Internet connectivity. Parties used the chat channel to indicate they were having trouble. The instructor’s role was to troubleshoot, call upon students, and move the discussion along. This study provides some insight on how chat can be used in a discussion-based, online synchronous course to identify technical difficulties with a called-upon speaker and how the correction is made.

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