...and on to Content

From: david_eddy_spicer@harvard.edu
Date: Wed Sep 18 2002 - 05:43:16 PDT


That's helpful, Phil & Ana. This does seem a good time to turn back to
content...

K. wrote:
>I'm sure for anyone interested in credit a faculty sponsor would want to
>see a syllabus ...
>Is someone already working on this? Just wondering.

I am putting mine together over the weekend. Is anyone else in the same
boat? Perhaps we could toss rough drafts to and fro before posting to the
larger group on Monday? I'm thinking we'd each likely share a core of
foundational readings (roots) and then would select other readings (fruits,
strands, whatever) & local activities according to our specific interests
and aims. The online seminar would have the same foundational readings, I
presume, and then provide an overview of the rest.

K. also wrote:
>Seems a point person for the syllabus development and a point person for
>finalizing online technologies/logistics would be helpful ...

I'm willing to serve as a dull point on syllabus development... Dull in the
sense of eager to compile others' input but relatively new to the terrain
and with interests (workplace learning) that seem to be a bit to the side
of this mainstream (literacy & language acquisition). Would welcome company
here.

David

                                                                                                                                          
                      phil_chappell who-is-at access
                      .inet.co.th To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
                                                   cc:
                      09/18/02 05:38 AM Subject: Back to Access and on to Content
                      Please respond to
                      xmca
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          

David and all,
I have to concur with Ana on keeping the mode fairly simple so that the
technology doesn't become more of a constraint than a facilitator of
discussions. The mention of email filters by Bill is to me a simple but
highly effective way to have your own community in a folder. I have four
such set ups in my mail manager so that the day's messages from each group
get sent directly to it's own group folder, and you can easily follow each
discussion. This resolves the problem of a messy inbox. The potential
silencing of the lambs by the lion share takers is a problem for the
moderator, is it not? Presumably the participants are registered
participants, and couldn't the moderator try to ensure equitable
contributions across the group - what Bill referred to as structured turn
taking?

I took a tour through Gordon's knowledge forum and it was quite easy to
navigate, however with quite slow phone line connection speeds in Thailand,
it MAY become frustrating navigating through all the different windows
(also, once you enter a new area with a new window, I found it difficult to
go back!). The set up of xmca with a webpage where articles can be posted
seems to me a great alternative for slow service in the tropics.

However as a humble newcomer, I will take Jim's advice and focus more on
content than delivery for the time being. And on that topic, I am
interested
in CHAT and language education, and further to previous suggestions for
reading, I suggest Jim Lantolf's edited volumes - 1. Sociocultural Theory
and Second Language Learning and 2. Vygotskian Approaches to Second
Language
Research as worthy of reading/discussion papers.

Cheers,

Phil Chappell

----- Original Message -----
From: <david_eddy_spicer@harvard.edu>
To: <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 8:58 PM
Subject: online seminar (back to access)

Phil,

One of the decisions here has to do with determining whether those
interested have access to the web that is inexpensive and readily
available. Jim was hoping to get input on what we should consider as the
basic requirement for access with those concerns in mind.

Of the four options below (from online-intensive to offline-compatible),
which would best meet the needs of those in Thailand? Your answer indicated
"3" yet I don't consider the listserv format to be "threaded" in the same
way that 1 & 2 are. (In these, the visual structure of the discussion
changes depending on the topical outline.) Hope I'm not being too arcane,
but I do think (1) in particular offers structures that will encourage
deepening the discussion with a big fat PROVIDED that everyone has ready
access.

David

1) a web-based threaded discussion tool (what WebBoard, KF and others would
offer in part)--
Examples:
WebBoard - http://forums.chatspace.com/~wb5trial/guests
Knowledge Forum - http://knowledgeforum.ucsc.edu:27320/ Gordon says:
"First selct EDUC250_FALL02 as
the database and then log in with Username: visitor and Password: guest

PRO: permanent topical indexing with multiple threads; shared archive;
flexible management; embedded within web interface for easy linking to
resources (like document or link libraries).
CON: requires learner to be online over extended period for browsing,
posting.

2) a "newsgroup" discussion that could be downloaded locally--
Example: <alt.fan.dan-quayle> ;-)

PRO: basic indexing by reply-tos; shared archive; local download requires
less online browsing.
CON: interface (newsgroup reader) not widely used (IMHO); not as flexible
as current generation web-based tools.

3) email listserv like xmca--
PRO: only requires email client; minimal connect time; archive.
CON: not threaded; not integrated with web resources; messages sit in your
inbox along with all the other stuff.

4) hybrid of 1 + 2,3-- (a web-based course tool w/ newsgroup or listserv,
like Kevin has mentioned for WebBoard)
PRO: meets diverse needs.
CON: more difficult to manage; learners' experience of course varies, which
would affect participation.

                      phil_chappell who-is-at access
                      .inet.co.th To:
xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
                                                   cc:
                      09/17/02 07:09 AM Subject: Re: online
seminar (tools > structure)
                      Please respond to
                      xmca

Before this subject gets relegated to a separate forum, can I add that
there
are 2 and possibly 5 interested folks here in Thailand. As I read this
thread, I take it that most communication would not be in 'real time' (a
pity), although Kevin mentioned a synchronous chat and/or instant messaging
option. May I request (as an interested participant) that the main focus be
on threaded discussions a la this one so that people from marginal time
zones are not excluded from important and possibly one-off discussions?

Marginally yours,

Phil Chappell
----- Original Message -----
From: Rosa Graciela Montes <rmontes@siu.buap.mx>
To: <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 12:46 AM
Subject: Re: online seminar (tools > structure)

From Mexico, there's a few people who have participated in
other joint seminars and who probably would be
interested. We are just starting up our semester so it's
hard to say who or how many.

I would be very interested in learning about and
experimenting with web-based platforms, which I know almost
nothing about.

Rosa Montes, Universidad Auton. de Puebla



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