Epistemological Reflections in Online Discussion Boards for Preservice Teacher Education
Abstract: Personal and revisionary expressions are not often valued in teacher education discussion boards. However, proper development of teacher thinking in online discussion boards can provide an opportunity for students to develop in creative ways that help teachers cultivate a unique passion for constructing knowledge. In this paper, we start by describing ways of knowing content in the past and present. Then online discussion board posts are examined for the way students know content. Whether students copy the ideas of the text or develop the ideas depends on at least partly on the epistemological expectations of the instructor. If we are to develop creatively and thoughtfully in society, we must develop this desire to be creators of text and also innovators of knowledge.