CMC effects on Distance Learning
Dustin Chryst
There has been much debate over whether the internet has improved or impaired the college student's learning experience. Many of them have chosen to take on both a career and school at the same time and online courses have helped them clear the hurdle of managing their time. On the other hand, some would argue these students are missing the traditional face to face experience that has been associated with college for many years.
One method of study that has become increasingly difficult in an online based course is group projects. Many students take online courses because they have difficulty committing to being at a certain place at the same time on the same day each week. This makes it difficult to work together using a synchronous type of communication such as an online chat. According to Paulus (2007), this is the most effective method for brainstorming and effective collaboration. In a traditional classroom, it is much easier to have a discussion because the time and place are already set by the instructor. This leaves email or a discussion board as the primary means of communication. This often entails a few students with the most time doing the majority of the work because they are able to frequent the site most often. The students who are not able to visit the discussion board due to other obligations come off as working less or even lazy. However, this can also be an advantage to an online course. The research also showed that if students were given the choice of which methods of CMC to use, they were able to be much more successful in their studies (Paulus, 2007). In fact, the groups that were more flexible in their CMC methods were the most successful overall. This is the ultimately the advantage of online courses is their flexibility. Therefore, it really is not a surprise that the students who utilize this great opportunity are more flexible themselves. Being able to communicate using a variety of different methods should yield the most successful results.
Another controversial topic regarding online courses is the aspect of anonymity. In a traditional classroom we get to associate names with faces. We see our professor on an every week basis; know what they look like and where we can meet them if needed. In an online course we can become disconnected with the professor, the students and even the environment itself if the effort is not made to stay in contact. How do we really even know the names on the roster or even the professor are real people? Nagel, Blignaut and Cronje (2007) address this issue and argue that novice online students can feel isolated, frustrated or even become unmotivated when their professors do not adequately engage the class. This is most likely due to the lack of human stimulation and the main reason online classes are not for everyone. The easiest way to address this issue is for the professor to be seen and available frequently as often as possible in beginning of the course. One positive aspect of anonymity is the freedom it gives students to express themselves who are not as social. According to Donath (2001), we are free to represent ourselves differently online than in real life. In person, we are judged by our race, ethnicity, sex and many other socially limiting factors. When we are online, we can project ourselves differently and be viewed the same by everyone in the course. This can be liberating for some people because it is a freedom them are not given in traditional classes. Overall, there are many advantages and disadvantages to online learning but in the end it all comes down to the student. It is a blessing for some and a curse for others. With technology advancing as quickly as it has, we might all be learning with online courses in the near future.
Reference List
Paulus, Trina (2007). CMC Modes for Learning Tasks at a Distance. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12, 1322-1345
Nagel, L., Blignaut, S., & Cronje, J. (2007). Methical Jane: Perspectives on an Undisclosed Virtual Student. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12, 1346-1368
Donath, J. S. (2001). Being real. In K. Goldberg (Ed.), The robot in the garden: Telerobotics and telepistemology in the age of the internet (pp. 297-311). Cambridge: MIT Press.
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2 comments:
Your post makes a lot of great points that I think are very relatable to all the people in this or anyone taking an online class. It is extremely hard to coordinate group projects especially when face to face communication is not possible. Even with the use of synchronous distributed communication (Burnett & Marshall, 2003), sometimes face to face communication is much easier. You discussed anonmyity in your post as well. I never really thought about it before, the fact that I didn't know what people looked like when I was making discussions with them or doing projects with them. Just the other day, one of my group members for another class added me as a friend on facebook. I just accepted his request and didn't think twice about it. I was on the phone with him and he was discussing how he felt more comfortable doing that just so he could put a face to a name when we were doing our project. I was shocked! I had never thought of that idea before!! Have you ever done anything like this? Or had someone add you and you didn't even realize you were in a group project with them?
Burnett, R., & Marshall, P. D. (2003). Web theory: An introduction. New York: Routledge.
Distance Learning has allowed me to take several classes to complete my degree program in a timely manner. It is very hard to work full-time and take classes to get an education. According to Wellman, the internet is helping each person to become a communication and information switchboard, between persons, networks, and institutions. (Wellman, 127) I do miss the interaction with other students in the traditional classroom. I think group work is more effective when you are able to see each other and understand each other's communication style. Do students who only take online classes feel disconnected from other students, instructors, or the university? I enjoy the community that is created by spending a semester with fellow students.
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