(Zhang and Nunamaker, 2003), while instructors move away from the roles of an oracle, lecturer,
and purveyor of knowledge toward those of a facilitator, guide, and mentor (Bernard et al., 2000;
Eastmond, 1996; Leidner & Jarvenpaa, 1995; Murphy & Cifuentes, 2001; Raymond, 2000;
Shedletsky & Aitken, 2001; Weisenberg & Hutton, 1996). In essence, it is believed that the
online forum breaks down the teacher-student hierarchy (Weisenberg & Hutton, 1996).