Use of categorization and structuring of messages in order to organize the discussion and reduce information overload in asynchronous textual communication tools

This paper shows how the use of categorization and structuring of messages in asynchronous textual communication tools could be useful in course delivery via the Internet in order to facilitate the argumentation and to guide the participants to reflect about their messages. Although the use of categorization caused an increase in the total number of messages, there was a reduction of the information overload and an increase in the quality of the discussion. We also show how the message categorization was used in a distance course delivered through the AulaNet environment, showing how we defined and improved the set of categories, and how it helped the students.