Use of Q&A websites in programming learning: Stack Overflow example

Next-generation Web 2.0 platforms are collaborative, social or professional networking tools. The common feature of these tools is that their users play the role of a content creator. Question and Answer (Q&A) Web sites are one of the most popular Web 2.0 tools. In practice, one of the most widely used Q&A Web sites is the Stack Overflow Q&A system, which includes programming topics. In this platform, users can generate, consume, exchange information, interact and communicate with each other in a specific programming context. On the other hand, the software industry is growing rapidly, and the importance of the programming profession and programming knowledge is increasing. In this case, it is important to investigate and understand these new platforms that provide a learning and communication environment in the context of programming. In this study which was conducted in the context of distance education discipline, it is aimed to get the opinions of Stack Overflow users on the basis of the connectivism learning theory and the uses and gratifications communication theory. The character of the research is a qualitative integrative single case study. In this context, open-ended survey questions were conveyed to the users through the asynchronous qualitative interview method and the research findings were analyzed and the main themes were determined. The main themes were compared with the principles and features of the ideal distance learning systems described in the literature. It was seen that the current status of the Stack Overflow platform was similar and compatible with features of ideal distance education systems.