COMPUTER-MEDIATED SCHOLARLY DISCUSSION GROUPS

Electronic discussion groups are playing an increasingly important role within the information culture. Computer-mediated discussion groups often serve as powerful tools in the retrieval and exchange of information, bringing together persons with similar interests regardless of geographic distance or the time constraints dictated by face-to-face meetings. This is true for activities in the classroom and for Faculty and students out of the classroom. This article focuses on online discussion groups used by scholars and apprentice-scholars to participate primarily in some type of scholarly or academic discussion, as opposed to groups whose focus is primarily recreational or for the dissemination or discussion of technical information. Further, computer-mediated scholarly discussion groups (SDG) are positioned within the general context of scholarly communication. The significant functions, purposes, advantages, and limitations of SDGs are described. Also discussed is how this form of computer-mediated communication differs from other communication media, especially within the educational setting.