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Electronic Discussion Group Lists In Adult Learning

Online electronic discussion groups (EDGs) are formed as a result of voluntary association (Harnack & Fest, 1964). Some persons use EDGs to gather information, to explore different perspectives on the same issues, much as they would a library. Other participants meet online with colleagues to informally discuss ideas, to promote creative thinking and to listen to others in much the same way as they do in person, by phone or at a seminar. An exploratory survey of a purposive sample of electronic discussion groups was conducted to determine the reasons a random sample of participants would give for joining electronic discussion groups, the benefits they derive from their membership, the metaphors they would use to describe lists; the general effects of list participation, and to determine if they considered their participation in their respective lists as a learning experience.