New Media and Teaching: A Comfortable Distance for Controversy

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New Media and Teaching A Comfortable Distance
for Controversy?

• J. Lynn McBrien, University of South Florida
• New Agendas for Media Literacy Conference
• Austin, June 2008

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BlackBoard
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Podcasts
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Elluminate A Synchronous Online Platform
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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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Research Questions

• In what ways, if any, can online technologies
  create opportunities for students to confront
  diverse perspectives?
• Does distance learning remove us further from one
  another, or can it be used to increase our
  consideration of multiple perspectives?

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In Progress

• Lit review
• Theoretical Framework
• Moores (1993) theory of Transactional Distance.

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Methods

• Primarily qualitative
• To date, about 170 student responses
• Indirect questions for my research questions

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Theme 1 Comfortable Environment

• It was nice to have class in the comfort of my
  own home, especially because it takes me
  approximately an hour to get to school.
• I loved the opportunity to work from home and be
  present for sessions.
• Allows for a more comfortable learning
  environment.
• Its convenient for working people who rush
  around to get to class like myself.

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Theme 2 Enjoyment

• It was fun and quite enjoyable.
• Our session went better than I expected. Our time
  seemed to go by very fast.
• I am excited about this new technology.
• I really enjoyed this session. I feel like we all
  got a chance to communicate, and it almost felt
  like a debate which was great.

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Theme 3 Increased Participation

• I think more people were able to communicate on
  the subjects than in class.
• I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I
  would. We all got a lot out there to each other,
  so I think the little bit of confusion was worth
  it.
• We held quite a good conversation during the
  session, and I dont think we would have
  accomplished that in the classroom.
• It allowed more peer feedback, being able to
  listen as well as read messages. I was encouraged
  to learn something new.

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Theme 3b Total Participation

• It enables everyone to be able to speak and
  discuss, rather than just a few people in class.
  I also like in-class discussions, but there is no
  requirement that we have to discuss in class, so
  it is usually only a few people that end up
  discussing the whole time.

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Theme 4 Psychological Comfort

• It is a great way of having discussions because
  it is not intimidating.
• I really enjoyed it because I felt more
  comfortable speaking. Students can freely speak
  without being put on the spot.
• Very positive, felt ability to be more open,
  especially on controversial subjects.
• Its easier to open up in class discussions. Not
  everyone likes to talk in front of people.

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Theme 4a Quality of Learning

• In class I may feel uncomfortable to ask a
  question because everyone looks at you. But on
  Elluminate, I felt I could really think for
  myself without the influence of others and I
  really liked that I could learn more because so
  many times in class you are worried about what
  others will think of your answer.
• Positive. I enjoyed the discussion among peers
  which I feel contributed to my learning
  experience. I could talk without feeling
  embarrassed to speak in front of a class staring
  back at me.

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Theme 4b Comfort of Anonymity

• I find it helpful to collect my thoughts before I
  write something because in class I know things
  but cannot answer them as fast as the young
  people.
• No one knows that Im one of the older
  students, and wont dismiss what I say because my
  views are outdated. Everyone has an equal voice.
  I feel more comfortable to express my views
  online.

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Theme 5 Reflection

• I never thought I would like discussion boards. I
  am one who likes to learn in the classroom. I
  take notes and I study. Unfortunately, I dont
  always understand. When I took my first online
  course, I began to read the inputs of other
  students. What a great technology tool. Not all
  students speak up in class discussion boards
  allow me to understand other perspectives, and I
  grow in knowledge and learning. Online
  technology has actually benefited my learning. I
  can reread others inputs and I dont have to try
  and write them all down, like I would in a
  regular classroom setting, because it is already
  written down.