|
Online discussion is... ...nothing more or less than two or more people using computer networks -- particularly the Internet -- to converse. Online discussions can be conducted using one or more of several technologies, including e-mail, threaded discussion tools, chat/instant messaging tools, and video conferencing tools. For instructors, the choice to use one or another tool will reflect underlying pedagogical decisions, such as whether the conversation needs to be conducted in real time, or whether the instructor needs to actively guide and shape the discussion, etc. |
 |
|
Why Use Online Discussion? Online discussion extends learning beyond the time and space constraints of traditional classroom-based courses. Taken a step farther, into the realm of distance learning, online discussion entirely frees students and instructors from the need to be at the same place at the same time, allowing geographically distributed learners to converse and learn from one another. How to Use Online Discussion: For most educators, course management software, such as WebCT and Blackboard, offers a useful variety of communications tools supporting almost all modes of online discussion. In addition, there are numerous online services -- some free, some fee-based -- that can be used. And many colleges and universities provide in-house tools or services. Some products and services require integration into your institution's computer systems, while others require little more than a hyperlink to outside systems housed on their own networks. Again, the more important decisions will center on pedagogy: the instructor's role in the conversation and the setting of concrete expectations for the students. For more details, please see our individual pages on chat, e-mail, instant messaging, threaded discussion, and video conferencing. |
