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
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Oct 01 2002 - 01:00:06 PDT