Subject: Re: tutorials / motivation / morale
From: Cathy Burke (cathy@windses.free-online.co.uk)
Date: Fri 12 Nov 1999 - 21:09:01 MET
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1999 21:09:01 +0100 From: Cathy Burke <cathy@windses.free-online.co.uk> Subject: Re: tutorials / motivation / morale
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Kathryn said
' where two students meet on campus and start a conversation, often
there
is an interchange of ideas relating to their work which enlightens one
or
both.'
I'd like to comment on this: an important - if not vital part of
learning is motivation and within groups this is affected by level of
morale or collective identification with the business of learning. Two
students meeting on campus and exchanging views verbally ...one may
express what they are feeling generally about the course somehow...the
other may agree, to sympathise.
When this exchange happens on-line it is archived and the whole student
body may have access to it. ..and in turn may respond. What can happen
at this point is interesting me at the moment - a snowball effect can
take place and before you know it, if the original exchange was negative and
even perhaps contained inaccuracies ..a downward spiral can occur. I
have read research which suggests that communication on line can be more
forthright, less reserved, even insulting...it is certainly freer. My
experience at the moment is just this scenario, and I am struck by how
in the on-line environment (informal asynchronous notice board area for
the student group of about 30 students) the quiet as mice students will
roar like a lion. A key thing here is motivation and morale which can
work either positively or negatively.
Kathryn also says,
'Similarily in a tutorial situation, one learner can observe a discussion
and
learn from following what others say.'
This is interesting: I am using software which allows me to see who-
reads-what in our virtual learning spaces. I can clearly see that when I
give advice to one individual within the collective discussion in a kind
of tutorial mode, a pile of other students will read this exchange and I
find this to be one of the advantages of integrating on-line learning
into traditional modes.In this sense, when this happens on line, I would
suggest that there is far less transactional distance in the context of a
collaborative learning group than when that one student comes to knock on my door.
Cathy
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