Elearning for Educators

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

6 comments:

Shelley Rodrigo said...: Greg,
I should be starting to sound like a broken record: it depends on your audience and purpose and learning objectives. I answered “other” however I was leaning towards the last one. Not that I think discussion boards have been replaced; but, instead there are a lot of other communication tools that allow for different types of communication and learning opportunities. As for the formality issue…I would be offended by what your classmate wrote. Unless the instructor specifically asks for polished writing (and really…do you want to restrict student discussion, thus learning, that way?), I would assume make sure you reread it once for major errors and move on. And if that person sincerely didn’t understand something, well then reply with questions!
My rant! :-)
shell; February 12, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Greg Pratt said...: Shelley

Thanks, as our instructional technologist I respect your opinion and view. The limitation of my ability to construct a decent survey lies at the heart of your inaction and comment.

Unlike you I was not offended, I tend to have a very thick skin. Further, in my experience I have often been misinterpreted, both in person and online, so I tend to assume the best in communication.

The colleague who introduced their reply to me with this comment is very passionate and thorough in their analysis of our topics.

I have come to respect the level of participation from this colleague, unlike most of my fellow economists who reject online teaching and learning for our profession, who judge online instruction and learning of economics as a facade and insult, this colleague actually is investigating online learning and online learning communities! My colleagues in economics have what Herbert Spencer called contempt prior to investigation.

The classmate who prefaced their remarks in reply to my post is, at a minimum, investigating online learning and community building.

I only wish my colleagues in economics would do the same - excepting my fellow economist in EDUC 761 who is an active and valued colleague - both online and in person.

Greg; February 12, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Excuse me, but discssion boards are conversation. Who but a really rude person, corrects someone's conversation? Great instructional approach - get the kids to "talk" and then hammer them because they said the word wrong.; February 12, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Greg Pratt said...: I think you do make a point about civil discourse. See my reply above to Shelley R on this issue.

Greg; February 12, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Greg Pratt said...: Comments received via e mail.

I do not use them right now; they are very time consuming and my research revealed that the instructor has to play an active role or the students get off track. I am so time-pressed, teaching f-t-f classes, that I am not available online enough to be there to play an active role in the discussion process. I do not want to work at night anymore, either. I am too tired by then. So, no discussion boards for me.

and

I haven't use discussion boards in online class instruction.; February 12, 2008 at 6:23 PM
Anonymous said...: I tend to agree with the post that outlined discussion boards as a conversation.

A conversation, in my view, works best with a suspension of judgmental behavior and an effort to "listen" to the content of the message.

In reviewing the post and the comments, I admit to being taken aback by the student to student comment.

I was also impressed (not favorably) with the online faculty who do not use discussion boards, at least for the reason given.; February 12, 2008 at 6:25 PM

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