Teaching with Online Communication Tools
Online communication tools, from email to chat, provide powerful
platforms to enrich discussions among students, implement collaborative
assignments, foster peer review, and encourage greater communication
between students and instructors. As with traditional writing assignments
and discussion forums, using online tools to facilitate writing,
collaboration, and discussion requires attention to the planning
and structure of these activities in order for them to be successful.
In addition, it is important to match the proper tool to these
online activities. In this section of the web site, therefore,
we will propose general guidelines for effective online writing
and discussion projects, and an overview of the different communication
tools available and some of their associated pedagogical functions.
 Using Online Tools to Facilitate Discussion and Writing
Both research and anecdotal evidence has demonstrated that online
tools can improve student writing, critical skills, and participation.
In particular, online forums provide a means for students to be
reflective about both their own work and that of their peers. It
also allows students who are unlikely to participate in in-class
discussions to interact with their peers in a formal setting. More...
Teaching with Asynchronous Communication Tools
Asynchronous tools are those which users post to and the post
is read and replied to later. The most popular asynchronous tool
is email, but others include listservs (automated email lists),
bulleting boards (where users can see the entire list of postings
on a browser), newsgroups, blogs, and wikis. More...
Teaching with Synchronous Communication Tools
Web-based
synchronous communication (online communication which occurs in
real time) has become commonplace over the past five years. A number
of commercial “chat” tools such as
AOL Instant Messenger, are regularly used for formal and informal
synchronous communication. Course management software, such as
Illinois Compass, also provide chat functions which allow for the
transmission of images, simultaneous viewing of “whiteboard” drawings,
and shared Internet browsing as well as text-based communication.
More...
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