Communication patterns during synchronous Web-based military training in problem solving

The nature of communication among geographically dispersed groups of learners using text messaging in a military training environment was assessed. A total of 6601 acts of chat were coded into one of three interaction content categories (social, task, or technology-related) and analyzed for frequency and relative change over time. Results indicated shifting patterns of interaction over the 6-month course; while technology concerns gradually diminished, on task discussion peaked in the middle months and social interactions were higher at the start and end of the training, Overall, student chats were categorized as on-task 55%, social 30%, or technology-related 15%. Examples of chats and focus group data indicated that there was an emphasis on fostering student problem solving within the online course. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.