The impact of course duration on the development of a community of inquiry

This study investigated the effect of time on the development of a community of inquiry by examining an online course offered over two different time periods. The study was guided by the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework (Garrison, Anderson, Archer, The Internet and Higher Education 2000; 2(2-3): 87-105). The focus was on a graduate level education course, the topic of which was blended learning. The course was given by the same instructor in a 13-week fall semester and a 6-week spring term. Transcript analysis of weekly online discussions and the CoI Survey were used to explore the differences between the short-term and long-term versions of this course in terms of each measure of CoI presence (social, teaching and cognitive presence). The findings showed differences between the short-term and long-term versions of this course in terms of the development of each presence and students' perceptions.