RSA #3 Computer Conferencing and the On-Line Classroom

RSA #3 Computer Conferencing and the On-Line Classroom

Zane L Berge, University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA

By: Susan Mitchell

http://www.editlib.org/noaccess/15148

            During the reading this week I decided to focus on the part that discusses issues and concerns associated with the on-line classroom. According to the text there may be physical problems associated with on-line classes such as carpal tunnel, back problems, and headaches. (Palloff, Pratt, 6) The pros seem to far out weigh the cons. The text goes on to say that on-line learning can draw out the student who might be quite in the face-to-face classroom. This weeks reading also discusses how to create more human connections in the on-line classroom. It states that one way to do this is to create a sense of “synchronous presence”(Palloff, Pratt, 12)

            After reading the article, Computer Conferencing and the On-Line Classroom, I also focused my attention on the pros and cons of the on-line classroom. Synchronous communication can help to make the on-line class more human.

More than one person can modify on-line course documents simultaneously, and students can have real-time discussions. (Berge, 6) Asynchronous communication also is a con for the on-line classroom in that it allows for time independence by permitting 24-hour access to other people and resources. It may be more convenient for students who work, have family, and other responsibilities. Many of the Cons discussed in the article are no longer an issue. Among these was a lack of reliable access to local area networks (LANs), wide area net- works (WANs), or Internet-connected hardware (Berge, 12)

            I found it interesting that in both the assigned reading and the article the pros for on-line learning were also the characteristics of a successful PLC. Of course the more I read I realized that this made sense because in a successful on-line course it is also a professional learning community. Both readings reinforced the importance of collaboration and using tools such as Google docs, Google WIKI and blog postings. Although they did not use these tools by name these tools would meet the criteria they presented.

References

Palloff, R. & Pratt, K.  (2007). Building Online Learning Communities: Effective strategies for the virtual classroom. (2nd ed.). San Franciso: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 978-0-7879-8825-8.

International Journal of Educational Telecommunications
ISSN 1077-9124
Volume 3, Issue 1, 1997
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)  Charlottesville, VA