Canadian Network for Innovation in Education

This presentation reports the results of a recently completed applied meta-analysis of Community of Inquiry (Garrison, Anderson & Archer, 2000) empirical research as well as the evolution of the website to support Community of Inquiry researchers, practitioners and community. Since publication of the keystone CoI framework, hundreds of research studies applying and extending the original Community of Inquiry framework have resulted in the development of theory, method and instruments for studying learning communities across multiple disciplines and in varied educational settings.

A research alliance reviewed more than 350 quantitative and mixed-methods empirical studies citing the keystone Garrison et al. (2000) publication, then completed a quantitative statistical meta-analysis of 50 studies. The short-listed studies were categorized by article focus (theoretical review, empirical test, practical application), and then analyzed for research methodology, original data or secondary data to determine which, if any, patterns are emerging in quantitative research being done on the COI Framework.

A Community of Inquiry website and online community have been established in conjunction with ongoing COI research to facilitate sharing of empirical evidence, practice implications and use of the COI framework in faculty development and course (re)design. The rationale underpinning the COI website and online community will also form part of this presentation.

Of Interest to: Online and distance education, Post-secondary education, K-12 educators, Instructional designers, Researchers, Educational technologists, Administrators