Ask for Help: Online Help-Seeking and Help-Giving as Indicators of Cognitive and Social Presence for Students Underrepresented in Chemistry

Destiny Williams-Dobosz, Amos Jeng, Renato F.L. Azevedo, Nigel Bosch, Christian Ray, Michelle Perry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Help-seeking is an essential tool for student success. Still, students, especially those underrepresented in STEM (UR-STEM) and those underrepresented in chemistry (UR-Chem), may be reluctant to employ help-seeking for academic success. Understanding help-seeking in online courses is crucial for developing equitable learning environments where students can engage with a community of inquiry. We analyzed help-seeking behaviors and responses to requests for help in an online college-level chemistry course's discussion forum. We found that requests for help were responded to equally, regardless of how explicitly students appealed for help. Furthermore, we found that UR-Chem students requested and responded to help similarly and received help at greater rates than their non-UR-Chem peers. Results support that productive and substantive help-seeking and help-giving discussions occur in an online discussion forum. Ultimately this work highlights a necessary learning skill, help-seeking, thereby informing chemistry instruction and learning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3693-3703
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Chemical Education
Volume98
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 14 2021

Keywords

  • Chemical Education Research
  • Collaborative/Cooperative Learning
  • First-Year Undergraduate/General
  • Internet/Web-Based Learning
  • Minorities in Chemistry
  • Second-Year Undergraduate
  • Women in Chemistry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Education

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