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Abstract
Villanova University launched its online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program in fall 2012, in which students from across the country, and in some instances the world, engage in video-based e-learning modules. As the first group of students completed the program, the project detailed in this article traced the evolution of written chatroom comments over the course of several terms. By closely analyzing these written comments, along with data from an anonymous exit survey, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of virtual learning communities and online education in public administration. Building on Haythornthwaite’s (2001a) work, this study shows how group members engage in multiple types of interaction and use one particular medium—the chatroom—in support of multiple communication goals during two 8-week courses.
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Ralph A. Gigliotti
Ralph A. Gigliotti is assistant director for the Center for Organizational Development and Leadership at Rutgers University, where he is also a doctoral candidate and part-time lecturer in communication. He also serves as an adjunct instructor for the Department of Public Administration at Villanova University. His research interests explore the intersection of organizational communication, leadership, and crisis communication, particularly in the context of higher education.
