Many benefits of online discussion have been recorded in the literature. For example, participation in an asynchronous online discussion is time and place independent (Morse, 2003: Williams etal., 2001). Participants who involved online discussion can contribute whenever they have a useful input and wherever they are as long as they have access to a network based computer. Williams (2002, p. 266) explained the freedom from temporal and geographical constraints international students have “flexibility in the time, place and pace of communication” with others. In contrast, the traditional face-to-face discussion does not have this flexibility. Online discussion allows students taking time to think about the messages they receive from their peers as well as what they postings. After a long time practice they can send without the pressure as an immediate responder (Biesenbach & Lucas, 2003). Therefore, online discussion is also defined as "a powerful tool for the development of critical thinking, collaboration, and reflection" (Williams et al., 2001, p. 151). Online discussions are deeply engaged and benefits the diverse students compared with traditional classroom discussions (Crevener, 1999, cited in Pinch & Graves, 2000). Students tend to participate more as they are aware that their participation is being monitored and recorded (Tullar et al., 1998). Online discussion within small groups or learning sets also affords a growing sense of community and a feeling among students that they can get to know each other through this medium (Curtin, 2002, cited in Lewin & Jerram, 2003; Hammond, 2000). Another major benefit of online discussion relates to the fact that in the traditional classroom situation, a few students often domi... ... middle of paper ... ...e way it is used by instructors and students and how it is contribute to the course work (Elgort et al., 2003; McKinlay, 1999, cited in Biesenbach-Lucas, 2003; Weasenforth et al., 2002). The length of the discussion, the number of postings required, the size of any one contribution, the role of the instructor, the students' technical preparedness and so on, need to be carefully considered. Otherwise, the discussion may consist of contributions that are not strongly interactive and the students may simply "play the game" of assessment whereby they make postings that earn marks but do not really contribute to the development of the conversation (Oliver & Shaw, 2003, p. 56). Therefore, some authors offer tips for designing and running a good discussion in a networked environment based on their experiences (Hawisher & Pemberton, 1997; Kimball, 1995; Sullivan, 2002).
Many colleges have failed in achieving the perfect education by the excessive use of technology. Hacker and Dreifus support the use of technology in many cases, such as having interactive question where the software can give the chance to review your work or giving hints to find the right answer (182). Nevertheless, they are completely aware that the use of technology needs to be supported by a good instruction inside the classrooms (183). The University of the Ozarks’ technological resources out of class are a great advantage to improve the learning process in students’ free time. Online discussions, submitting assignments, and taking online tests are the most common online activities for students in this university, this activities challenge the knowledge acquired in class. Moreover, using technology outside the classroom provides the opportunity to use all the class time to go on new topics, to discus, and to answer questions. Nevertheless, the University of the Ozarks is not using all its technological resources appropriately. Most of the classrooms are provided with interactive boards, speakers, and projectors that are hardly ever used. If the university used every technological resource at its maximum, the positive results of learning would
...ut it is suggested so that students are able to put names to faces during live lecture. The social network is divided into two types of forums: the course forum and the casual forum. In the course forum, the students discuss the lectures and the reading material. In the casual forum, the students connect to classmates just as in Facebook. The course is split into three sections. In each section of the course, you are required to start at least 1 new forum thread on a reading or lecture issue, and respond to another person’s forum thread on a reading or lecture issue. You can also fully participate in the casual forum to get to know your classmates and discover similar interests and share ideas, but you are only going to be evaluated on the postings in the course forum. Course forum threads, posted in each section of the course, are cumulatively worth 100 points.
The advance in technology during the past decade has made it possible for people all over the world to communicate with one another. Online communities consist of groups of people communicating to one another through the use of a computer. A number of online communities exist, anywhere from Jewish teen groups to Ultima Online, a communication game in where thousands of people may play at any given time. Groups ranging in size from a few people to thousands or even millions of people are forming communities in cyberspace. Online communities are a great way for people to communicate to one another. People have the potential to learn leadership, communication patterns, group boundaries, cohesion, alliances and subgroupings. Online groups are quite different than in-person groups. The fact that communication is through the use of text only, hiding or altering ones identity, and equalization of status are all unique benefits to joining an online community. Children with learning or developmental disabilities are areas of extraordinary interest. I
Online learning crosses the boundaries of time and place offering instructors access to different online teaching materials from anywhere at anytime. Likewise, this flexibility enables instructors to take charge of their own learning and build awareness of contemporary technologies in order to assimilate best approaches. Within the online discussions, instructors are challenged to learn with their colleagues and reflect upon their learning through social discourse. The informal nature of online learning was recognized to be a core augmentation to the FPD of online instructors. Thus, it is through the integration of social constructivism in a VCoP that instructors go through learning transformation and become more critical and creative thinkers, analyzers and knowledge creators. The results of this study pointed that a VCoP may provide optimal experience between community support and addressing the practicality of time constraints and sustained critical reflection and discourse about their teaching
Online communication host’s unique opportunities for education but the time lapses, absence of social, visual and auditory cues create a communication handicap. The diversity of community college provides unique opportunities for intercultural relationships as well as intercultural challenges hoping to meet different goals, and come from different backgrounds
Online education is a booming trend in the education world. It is something different than the traditional classroom. It is allowing student around the world the opportunity to get an education. Online education allows student to have a more proficient and cheaper way of learning. Having multiple ways to give a student an education allows all learning types to find their own way of learning. Education changes lives but it can be difficult for students to get to a classroom to sit through an hour class 4 times a week, this can be for many different reasons. There are many doubts about online education, but this a new world without borders it is a new opportunity for people from all over the world to get an education.
Some students within society need to have online learning to complete college degrees due to their lifestyles. While it is good to have online learning as an option if one chooses, it should not be the only option available to some students. Some may argue that online education is not creating discrimination within the educational environment. Furthermore, some may suggest that online learning is benefiting our students in society. There has been a breakthrough in time and geographical limitations of education via online courses (Ho, 2009).
Today’s generation is like no other. The nation as a whole has completely evolved from past times, with technology being one of the greatest improvements. Traditionally, schooling takes place in a classroom setting, but, with the many modifications in our world’s system, we are able to assimilate more modern means of education, such as online learning. However, with many changes comes differences and requires adjustments. The online learning system has proven to be just as effective as traditional learning, with some minor differences, however, nothing of great significance. A few of those insignificant differences include online learning being convenient, especially for the non-traditional students,
The study shows that online interaction has a positive impact on developing students’ communication skill and appreciation towards other people’s cultures. Chun (2011) investigated the effect of online communication tools used in asynchronous and synchronous communication to the students’ language style, and students’ performance in conveying various expressions related to speech acts in writing. The study found that while asynchronous communication contains longer and more complex sentences, synchronous communication reflected more engagement and evidence of the development of intercultural competence compare to asynchronous communication due to the lack of personal interactions. Online collaboration also enhances the development of opportunities that might not have been available in a traditional class setting. This opportunity enables the students to link theory and practice and has a practical dimension of their course by interacting with others (Dooly et al.,
The author states (paraphrasing) “Until now, little attention has been paid to the problem of how to help students be involved positively in online courses and improve their learning.” The author further emphasizes how critical it is for teachers to institute innovative teaching methods that would promote involvement and aid in developing collaborative problem-solving skills in students.... ... middle of paper ... ...
The traditional education environment is starting to implement new ways to teach students with the rapid development of technology. One strategy is the use of the internet to communicate, listen, and share ideas among students and professors alike; specifically the use of the internet realm in wikis, blogs, and podcasts. Blogs are either a website in itself or a part of a website where something like an interactive journal is being used; a person can write about anything they wish, link or show images, and decide whether other people can comment on the blog entry. Wikis are websites or webpages dedicated to providing information about a topic and can be edited by either the members of that site. Podcasts are digital files in the form of audio, video, or both that can be downloaded online onto computers, MP3 players, certain phones, and many more devices. Wikis, blogs, and podcasts could positively alter the educational format of lectures for students.
“Social interaction and social presence are addressed by allowing users to collaborate and communicate with peers either using the system or external applications for online collaboration or communication.” (Kozuh) In other words in order for social interaction to occur Kozuh does a terrible job explaining that the subject or in this case college student has to present or interact with the system in order to have success on online collaboration. If students do not use the school sites then it is a waist of time and money for the school to have them. Social media like Twitter or Facebook is being used as a tool to connect students with their professor in a more modern and up to date. Every school campus offers student’s sites in which they are able to connect with other students and professors, but the sites that school offer are not very common. R. Junco, G. Heiberger and E. Loken, the authors of the article “The effect of Twitter on college student engagement and grades” discuss their semester long study on whether or not Twitter could be used to improve the learning of college students. The author’s main arguments is that by incorporating social media like Twitter into the curriculum would improve the ways that the students interact with their classes and professor, which would help them get the most out of their classes. By having students feel more comfortable and know
their dorm room or apartment is sit down at their computer and go online. They proceed to either, read their e-mail, check their online courses for new assignments, or go on one of the many communication websites or programs that are available currently to this generation. None of this would be possible without the readily available Internet access that we often take for granted. The Internet has proven not only useful for entertainment purposes, but has also dramatically changed the educational approach, for both students and educators, and the way knowledge is being obtained.
Many students say online courses are convenient. Online courses allow students to plan according to their schedule, and the time and location that best works for them. Although online education may seem more “easier,” students should look at the cons of online education. In the feature article "Face-Face or Online Instruction? Face-Face is Better," the author, Arleen R. Bejerano, claims online courses take the students away from the college community and confines them to their home. The students no longer have interaction with the college community, which may cause them to miss out on some important opportunities. This may affect their possibility of succeeding to achieve a degree. The author suggests some students may become discouraged from learning independently, from facing challenges in academics, and fall behind or
"The Teacher's Role in Developing Interaction and Reflection in an Online Learning Community." (n.d.): n. pag. Taylor and Francis. Web. 28 Feb. 2014.