INTERACTION AND MEDIATION PATTERNS IN TWO ONLINE FORUMS IN A COURSE FOR THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OF BIOLOGY TEACHERS

ABSTRACT:

The present work aims to analyze the interaction patterns, the depth of the discussions, the categories of speech and the forms of mediation of teachers/course participants in an online course of continuing education for Biology teachers. Quali-quantitative research followed 36 course participants and a mediator in two thematic forums. There was a dynamism in the speech shifts, between course participants and mediators, allowing patterns of interaction, in addition to the triadic forms: Initiation, Response and Feedback (I-R-F) and Initiation, Response and Evaluation (I-R-E), typical in face to face interaction activities. Such patterns indicate good depth in the conversations and greater reflections for the construction of meanings. Thus, the mediator is not the center of discussions and the whole conversational dynamic is not restricted to a reactive model of interaction.

Keywords:
Teacher training; Distance education; Mediation