Tools

The purpose of this webpage is to let you explore some examples of what is being done today using internet-based learning tools that facilitate the use of online discussions.

Generally regarding the internet (Agre 1977)

  • Don't treat people impersonally
  • Remember that being polite is basic to effective interactions
  • Follow up on e-relationships. Forward items of interest to your contacts
  • Thank anyone who helps you obtain information
  • Promote your own work but keep it low key
  • Use electronic networking as part of the larger ecology of communication
  • Try different types of e-relationships. However, don't substitute them for human contact

Asynchronous discussions

  1. Email - email can be used as an asynchronous discussion medium.
  2. Listservs - A listserv is essentially an automated service that forwards messages to everyone on the list and is another method of providing asynchronous discussion. This type of list is used to provide information to members of an organisation or to a specific group of people. If you subscribe to a "discussion list" you and all of the other members will be able to post messages to the list. This means you can ask questions, post responses, and otherwise carry on asynchronous discussion. Listservs can be moderated.
    Examples:-
    • TRDEV-L is a listserv discussion group for training and development.
    • List of Lists is a databse of listservs on the internet
  3. Web-based Bulletin Boards - web-based bulletin boards allow an ongoing asynchronous conversation. Bulletin boards are text based but usually allow links to URLs. Lifespan and purpose of the bulletin board is flexible. They can be a good learning medium for collaborative projects and are oftem used in conjunction with other modes to create a complete learning scenario.
    Examples:-

     

Syncronous discussions

  1. Chat - refers to software that allows participants in a chat "room" to communicate in real time. Some chat facilities now support audio and video. Chats may be accessible to everyone or made available to members only. As chat is a real-time communication, good design of Internet-based learning would include some facility for asynchronous communicaation.
    Examples:-

Skills for using tools

E-mail skills

  • As you read your email answer it immediately by using the reply button as individuals increasingly expect prompt replies to email
  • At least acknowledge receipt of email promptly

Emoticons

  • Although not all that appropriate in business emoticons are popular in chat rooms, bulletin boards etc as they help clarif the author's tone or intention. Some examples:-
    1. :) smile
    2. :( sadness
    3. ;) wink
    4. :0 surprise
    5. LOL laugh out loud
    6. ROFL roll on the floor laughing
    7. IMHO in my humble opinion
  • Social Presence. Studies support higher student satisfaction and motivation when discussions have a social presence. Instructors might want to encourage students to use emoticons for "social presence." Students did better in collaborative activities where sufficient context and some detail of the decision making process was provided. We include diagrams, worksheets, pictures, caricatures, anything we can to help support the context and discussion.

Chatrooms

Listservs

  • Scan meassages for relevant content
  • Terminology
      • Lurking i.e. just looking at the messages
      • Spamming i.e. distributing junk mail
      • Flaming i.e. distributing hostile messages

Bulletin Boards

  • 2 Types of Bulletin Board Systems (BBS)
      1. Information bulletin boards direct you to other sites.
      2. Interactive bulletin boards encourage reactions to messages that others have posted.

See also