The Netin

Higher Education

Independence of time and distance

face to face

video conferencing

audio conferencing

radiotelevision

correspondence

Interaction

computer conferencing

Anderson, Terry. (Ed.). (2008). The Theory and Practice of Online Learning. AU Press: Athabasca University.

Independence of time and distance

face to face

video conferencing

audio conferencing

radiotelevision

correspondence

Interaction

computer conferencing

Anderson, Terry. (Ed.). (2008). The Theory and Practice of Online Learning. AU Press: Athabasca University.

Web based learning

Contributing and Participating

in Academic Seminar Discourse

Seminar posting

• Focus on an issue and support your arguments

• Your contribution should advance the group discussion

• Avoid general agreements• Extend, underpin, or give an opposite opinion

as long as it is based on facts• Be polite (nettiquette)!

Initial Confusion

─ Am I in the right course? It’s the same every time I start a new course! (Aug 30)

─ Where and how can I upload what I want to write in its proper place? It takes all my time to worry about this? (Sep 14)

─ I think you should stop worrying. We will solve this together. To the left you have the folder [for the particular theme] in it you will find the group folders. (Sep 14)

Managing the Setting

─ I say, this is deep, a book which is so loaded with difficult expressions that you will get stuck even on the author’s name! This book is heavy reading! (Oct 3)

─ Well, my goodness …it was a severe test … luckily I can use [an online dictionary] … in addition you are supposed to grasp the meaning of it too … [smiley inserted] … unfortunately I didn’t read the tutor’s guide in advance … (Oct 8)

─ Hi, group! [Name] seems to be the only one who is aligned with the time-table on this theme! How about you others? (Oct 4)

─ Hello [name] and others. I struggle with the book and I am nearly finished … I will really try to keep up. (Oct 4)

Attempts to manage the setting through:

• Sharing of experiences from the reading of the book.

• Creating a friendly atmosphere.• Synchronizing activities. • Aiming for dialogues rather than

monologues.

Cognitive Issues

─ … who is actually the teacher in this kind of CSCL environment. … perhaps we are all tutors in a way … each one of us must take on a great responsibility to ensure that learning occurs. Is it, … a task for all of us … to practice arguing and persuading? (Oct 12)

─ … it is about giving and taking in order to appropriate new concepts in a context. …, you cannot create knowledge on your own. You always create together with someone else. (Oct 14)

Benefits of online collaboration

• Participants must be prepared and ready to contribute• Writing is a powerful tool for the development of thinking • Discussing asynchronously gives each participant time to

reflect • Gradual elimination of communication barriers • Decreasing risk of plagiarism

How about the future?

• Mixed mode• Dual mode• Blended learning

“OPEN”

• Open educational resources (OER)• Open access (OA)• Open courseware (OCW)

Freely available applications• On the Internet

– Google (groups, sites, docs ...)– YouTube, Facebook, Flickr – ...... and many, many more

• For your computer– Internet apps (web browser, mail, chat...)– Various Linux distros– Free software (e.g. OpenOffice)– .......

Summary

• Campus- and online courses will merge• Course design might be in conflict with student

expectations and cultural experiences• Text-based online discussions is a powerful

strategy• Freely available resources will play a significant

role in future education

When is it necessary that we meet face to face?