Web-based educational discussion forums in a college undergraduate program setting: the case of alfamat

In this paper we talk about a particular web-based learning environment, alfamat, which was used as a mediator in educational discussion forums that took place in college undergraduate program settings. We will focus on a group of Portuguese prospective mathematics teachers’ perspectives about some of alfamat’ s characteristics as well as on its usage and consequent implications for their learning. Some special features stand out: interaction as a mediator of students’ reflection and sharing of ideas about subject matters; interaction as a catalyst of students’ performance; interaction as a means for rethinking and reformulating individual ideas based upon others’ ideas and experiences.

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