OMDE601 Discussion thread

13.7:-? Cynthia to Thomas' intro


13.7.1 :-) Beverly

Online conferences can provide the equivalent of the face-to-face interaction of the classroom if the instructor establishes ground rules for the conferencing that encourage creativity and spontaniety...for example, encouraging students to write freely withoutconcern for spelling or grammer...not having students reference everything they say..responding with questions as the instructorwould in a classroom. Instructors who do not structure online conferences to take advantage of the benefits of dialogical learning andteaching rob students of "participating in the process of knowledge." For as Peters (pg. 39) says these processs are "unique" and incomparable".

Peters, O. Learning and Teaching in Distance Education. London: Kogan Page.