Quasi-synchronous discussions: A proposal to measure the effect of Teams on cooperation, belonging, emotion and interactions

Abstract

As students begin to reconnect after the COVID-19 pandemic, changing student expectations around online engagement seem to be suggesting that new approaches should be adopted. Recent research has found that students who engaged with each other in a discussion task in a synchronous mode were more willing to work together, felt more positive and more like they belonged than students in an asynchronous mode.  We wish to extend these findings by investigating whether Microsoft Teams promotes a quasi-synchronous mode of discussion and has a similar beneficial effect.  The proposed study adopts a mixed-methods approach of quasi-experimental design to address this question.  Students will be randomly assigned to groups of five and provided with online forums (control) then re-form and use Teams (experimental) for a discussion task.  Data will be collected through survey, digital artefacts and interviews.  We aim to contribute robust, empirical evidence on the effects of Teams on student engagement, which will be of interest to educational leaders and teachers.