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Advertising and Marketing
in Computer-mediated Environments

 

                    

Some Thoughts on Participating in Asynchronous
and Synchronous Discussion
 

You will be expected to contribute to online asynchronous (different time/different place) discussions and contribute to online synchronous (live/same time) discussions through  Blackboard, and creates the possibility for creating a "community of learners."

 Collaboration with your classmates and instructor may help extend and deepen your learning and understanding of course concepts and material.  Some research suggests that students engaged in such supplementary computer discussions report better learning and earn higher grades than those students engaged in only face-to-face discussions.   An overview of some basic differences between FTF groups and computer-mediated group discussion can be found in: Olaniran, B.A., Savage, G. T., and Sorenson, R. L. (1996). Experimental and experiential approaches to teaching face-to-face and computer-mediated group discussion. Communication Education, 45, 244-259.

Asynchronous discussions will occur as students are asked to respond to summaries of readings or to post reactions to course materials, issues, and topics of concern. Questions to the class are also encouraged! The structure of the course discussion will be furnished by the Action Assginments can be found on the Blackboard Course Discussion Board

Rules and Strategies: Online Course Discussion

1) There are two types of messages: a) independent messages (in this case you simply compose a message and post it);  b)THREADED --consisting of a series of posted messages centered around a central theme and reactions (when you wish to respond to a particular message posted on the bulletin board, make sure you have opened up that message; then, click reply or respond, compose your message, then post it)! 

 2)  Use independent messages when your message does not relate to anything else, is a completely separate line of thought, you have been assigned to start a discussion, or if you wish to initiate class discussion around some new question or idea.  Add to a threaded discussion when your idea, resource, link, question etc., relates to a previous line of thought.  Messages on the Bulletin Board are visible to everyone in the class!  Generally the Blackboard Discussion forum gets real confusing if we do not keep the discussion threaded

3) Please be thoughtful of others as we gain skills in working with asynchronous and synchronous discussion.

4) Since everyone can log into the "Virtual Classroom? at once and type, it is possible to have too many people trying to carry on different lines of thought.  Generally, wait for a question to be posted.  If a particular person is not asked to respond, then the discussion is open for those who wish to enter a message.

5) It is customary wait for everyone to log-in and enter the appropriate chat-room.  The "virtual classroom  software shows who has logged in, but we will ask people to say "hello" and identify themselves. It is appropriate to engage in some "small talk" until most people have entered the room

6) Be aware that a good portion of the chat is logged, i.e., saved.  Be discrete and tasteful! Competence depends on effectiveness and appropriateness.

7)  The process of communication in web-chat is based upon the speed of people's typing skills, complexity of the ideas), length of the message, and the amount of thinking going on.  Generally, it's a slower process than real-time speaking.  Be patient--give people time to think and respond.

8) Some people find the process of multiple threads or lines of conversation confusing (at first).  It takes time to develop the facility to keep track of multiple typed lines of conversation (remember, our memories have to keep track of multiple lines of thought in spoken conversation).   Should not be a problem for the "multi-tasking" generation. :)

9) It's okay to "lurk" in the background and just read the various messages, but please contribute at appropriate moments.  You can even ask the class or group to pause while you process and seek to contribute your response.

10) Please do NOT worry about spelling errors or grammatical construction in web chatting.  As long as we can make sense of the word or the idea, you do NOT need to correct your mistakes.  If we have trouble making sense, then someone will probably ask you to clarify what you typed.

11) Web-chatting (typing) means that you have to be selective, brief or concise and clear in what you want to say.  You may wish to have some messages and questions prepared before hand, or type them in your word processor (e.g., Windows Notepad), copy and paste them in the message line area.

12) If you want to have a private conversation or are assigned to a group one can click on the person's name in the right-hand column (highlighting it); only those persons you have selected will receive your messages.  Thus, it is possible to carry on a separate conversation with others in the class.

13)  A nice skill: If you notice someone is NOT contributing anything, ask for her/his opinion or thoughts. Don't be a "CHAT-HOG!"