Using Social Knowledge Networks (SKNs) Enhances Participation and Interaction in Online Discussion Forums: A Comparative Study. *

The development of technology has transformed online discussion forum into a more dynamic and interactive approach. Researchers have studied different approaches to interactive scaffold connections by focusing on knowledge creation and social relationship media. In related research, knowledge networks(KNs) provides conceptual frameworks and collective knowledge for learners' knowledge creation, help them to build notes upon others; while social networks (SNs) provides learners with social relationships through which learners can discover hidden information and promote active learning; This study extends previous studies and compares a more novel ones (Social Knowledge Networks, SKNs, which integrated KNs and SNs based on knowledge co-construction) in a ICT course. Three experimental conditions were compared by comparing the participation and interaction among KNs, SNs, and SKNs groups. The results indicated that both the KNs and SKNs streams displayed high participation behaviors, and learners in the SN environment engaged in more social interactions than those in the other two groups. However, learners in the SKN environment have a higher level of knowledge construction level. Thus, SKN demonstrated advantages in fostering higher-level interaction.