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Social interaction in e-learning involves the extent to which a highly collaborative and interactive environment is provided in which students can communicate. There are two forms of communication used in online learning, the first is synchronous communication which occurs in real time and asynchronous communication which is when communication occurs but not at the same time. Examples of asynchronous and synchronous communcation method used online include bulletin boards, discussion threads and message boards. Each form of communication when used effectively can add to an effective online learning environment. Asynchronous communication gives people time to formulate ideas and questions to ask and swap with other students. It is important with e-learning courses to create a highly interactive environment, which with the use of collaborative techniques are encouraged to be used by students to help motivate them and encourage them to become involved in the course.
When designing an e-learning course the whole experience should be considered, with support for learners and effective delivery. With advances in technology students demand to be entertained when it comes to learning as with other aspects of their lives. Therefore technology is used to gain student’s attention and focus. This furthers the argument that with the technology advanced students of today, they will be more willing to learn via a computer than by any other means. There is much debate over the motivation and retention levels of students who participate in e-courses and the results are varied.
Another issue with human interaction in online environments is the social relationships one develops from learning another’s personality. This is usually done with the evaluation of non verbal communication which is not available via Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC). CMC refers to the use of networked computers for communication, interaction, and the exchange of information. There are many researchers, which compare the face-to-face method of teaching versus online instructional situations, to study the effectiveness of CMC in learning. Key differences between online and face-to-face discussions based on the following four factors: access, timing, mode of expression and visual cues. One potentially limited aspect of the online discussion is its lack of visual cues. Nonverbal cues can be important in any effort to communicate.
E-learning is beneficial to those students whom are reserved in a face to face classroom setting who will ultimately participate more through online interaction. The anonymity of online learning allows for students to actively participate and ask questions easily. Professors are very responsive to the different kinds of contact with students, the interaction with students and the convenience they enjoy through online learning.
Online education can has come under much scrutiny when compared to a face-to-face learning environment. A traditional classroom setting allows for student - teacher comunnication along with student to student communication. A way to overcome the sometimes lonely environment of e-learning is the use of discussion forums as they offer the opportunity to exchange views or ask for advice. The very structure of online learning is a solo activity that needs to be enhanced by collaborative measures. These collaborative measures include a mixture of different learning techniques still inclusive of some solo learning aspects. Other collaborative measures include online seminars enhanced with live video or audio conferencing, whiteboards and any other means which enhances the exchange of ideas among students.
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Jessica Strudwick 16:16, 27 Oct 2005 (EST)
