New Media and Teaching: A New Media and Teaching: A “Comfortable Distance” for “Comfortable Distance” for

Controversy?Controversy?

J. Lynn McBrien, University of South FloridaJ. Lynn McBrien, University of South Florida

New Agendas for Media Literacy ConferenceNew Agendas for Media Literacy Conference

Austin, June 2008Austin, June 2008

BlackBoardBlackBoard

PodcastsPodcasts

Elluminate – Elluminate – A Synchronous Online PlatformA Synchronous Online Platform

Research QuestionsResearch Questions

In what ways, if any, can online In what ways, if any, can online technologies create opportunities for technologies create opportunities for students to confront diverse students to confront diverse perspectives? perspectives?

Does distance learning remove us Does distance learning remove us further from one another, or can it be further from one another, or can it be used to increase our consideration of used to increase our consideration of multiple perspectives?multiple perspectives?

In Progress…In Progress…

Lit reviewLit review Theoretical FrameworkTheoretical Framework

• Moore’s (1993) theory of Transactional Moore’s (1993) theory of Transactional Distance. Distance.

MethodsMethods

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

questionsquestions

Theme 1: Theme 1: Comfortable EnvironmentComfortable Environment

It was nice to have class in the comfort of It was nice to have class in the comfort of my own home, especially because it takes my own home, especially because it takes me approximately an hour to get to me approximately an hour to get to school.school.

I loved the opportunity to work from home I loved the opportunity to work from home and be present for sessions.and be present for sessions.

Allows for a more comfortable learning Allows for a more comfortable learning environment.environment.

It’s convenient for working people who It’s convenient for working people who rush around to get to class like myself.rush around to get to class like myself.

Theme 2: EnjoymentTheme 2: Enjoyment

It was fun and quite enjoyable.It was fun and quite enjoyable. Our session went better than I expected. Our session went better than I expected.

Our time seemed to go by very fast.Our time seemed to go by very fast. I am excited about this new technology.I am excited about this new technology. I really enjoyed this session. I feel like we I really enjoyed this session. I feel like we

all got a chance to communicate, and it all got a chance to communicate, and it almost felt like a debate which was great.almost felt like a debate which was great.

Theme 3: Increased ParticipationTheme 3: Increased Participation

I think more people were able to communicate on I think more people were able to communicate on the subjects than in class.the subjects than in class.

I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I I actually enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. We all got a lot out there to each other, so would. We all got a lot out there to each other, so I think the little bit of confusion was worth it.I think the little bit of confusion was worth it.

We held quite a good conversation during the We held quite a good conversation during the session, and I don’t think we would have session, and I don’t think we would have accomplished that in the classroom.accomplished that in the classroom.

It allowed more peer feedback, being able to It allowed more peer feedback, being able to listen as well as read messages. I was listen as well as read messages. I was encouraged to learn something new.encouraged to learn something new.

Theme 3b: Total ParticipationTheme 3b: Total Participation

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

Theme 4: Psychological Comfort Theme 4: Psychological Comfort

It is a great way of having discussions It is a great way of having discussions because it is not intimidating.because it is not intimidating.

I really enjoyed it because I felt more I really enjoyed it because I felt more comfortable speaking. Students can freely comfortable speaking. Students can freely speak without being put on the spot.speak without being put on the spot.

Very positive, felt ability to be more open, Very positive, felt ability to be more open, especially on controversial subjects.especially on controversial subjects.

It’s easier to open up in class discussions. It’s easier to open up in class discussions. Not everyone likes to talk in front of Not everyone likes to talk in front of people.people.

Theme 4a: Quality of LearningTheme 4a: Quality of Learning In class I may feel uncomfortable to ask a In class I may feel uncomfortable to ask a

question because everyone looks at you. But on question because everyone looks at you. But on Elluminate, I felt I could really think for myself Elluminate, I felt I could really think for myself without the influence of others and I really liked without the influence of others and I really liked that I could learn more because so many times in that I could learn more because so many times in class you are worried about what others will think class you are worried about what others will think of your answer. of your answer.

Positive. I enjoyed the discussion among peers Positive. I enjoyed the discussion among peers which I feel contributed to my learning which I feel contributed to my learning experience. I could talk without feeling experience. I could talk without feeling embarrassed to speak in front of embarrassed to speak in front of a class staring a class staring back at me. back at me.

Theme 4b: Comfort of Anonymity Theme 4b: Comfort of Anonymity

I find it helpful to collect my thoughts I find it helpful to collect my thoughts before I write something because in class I before I write something because in class I know things but cannot answer them as know things but cannot answer them as fast as the young people.fast as the young people.

No one knows that I’m one of the “older” No one knows that I’m one of the “older” students, and won’t dismiss what I say students, and won’t dismiss what I say because my views are outdated. Everyone because my views are outdated. Everyone has an equal voice. I feel more has an equal voice. I feel more comfortable to express my views online. comfortable to express my views online.

Theme 5: ReflectionTheme 5: Reflection I never thought I would like discussion boards. I I never thought I would like discussion boards. I

am one who likes to learn in the am one who likes to learn in the classroom. I classroom. I take notes and I study. Unfortunately, I don’t take notes and I study. Unfortunately, I don’t always understand. When I took my first online always understand. When I took my first online course, I began to read the inputs of other course, I began to read the inputs of other students. What a great technology tool. Not all students. What a great technology tool. Not all students speak up in class: discussion boards students speak up in class: discussion boards allow me to understand other perspectives, and I allow me to understand other perspectives, and I grow in knowledge and learning. grow in knowledge and learning. Online Online technology has actually benefited my learning. I technology has actually benefited my learning. I can reread others’ inputs and I don’t have to try can reread others’ inputs and I don’t have to try and write them all down, like I would in a regular and write them all down, like I would in a regular classroom setting, because it is already written classroom setting, because it is already written down.down.