Friday, July 10, 2020

Limitations, expectations, problems or concerns experienced or foresee with three types of distance learning communication mediums

Limitations, expectations, problems or concerns experienced or foresee with three types of distance learning communication mediums.


Limitations of a threaded discussion

A threaded discussion offers several advantages over email lists or online chats. Todays technology has defined social media as a type of message board.  Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram etc.  All offer threaded discussion by replying to an article of interest, one can respond or “like”.



Expectations

Threaded discussion (social media) is a good idea for hosting a virtual community. The social media giants reign supreme as online content can be linked or directed back to relevant online discussions, creating a very easy transition of posting content back to the community.


One can make a post on a message board and not have to wait for someone to respond in real time as in an online chat.  One can log on later and to resume a conversation.  


Problems

Unlike typical email lists, past and present messages in a message board are readily viewable, meaning that evidence of quality participation and of a large group of participants is necessary to encourage more visitors to participate.  Who wants to join photography group thread with only 10 participants where if there were many hundreds of people of like interest signed up this would change your mind, thinking that this group must be successful versus the group with 10 people really doesn’t know what they are doing. To maintain a viable  number of participants some of the larger online threaded discussion groups include strategies to drive traffic into conversations.


One does not need to be present in real time for a threaded discussion.  Khan Academy and Google classroom are perfect examples of this.  Students can claim they have completed work, but no evidence is shown in either platform or particularly in Google classroom, student upload a black page as a completed assignment which triggers that the assignments has been received.  Unless a careful check is performed students can delay doing work and repeated emails or phone calls are required.


Limitations of email

Most people will overestimate the utility and purpose of email. 

In todays technology and society many people fail to understand or recognize the extreme importance of speech ie a conversation or a face to face discussion.  I don’t believe this is a good choice although it seems to be the norm these days, as spoken language is so valuable to help create and cement relationships. 


We also forget the importance of email communication in the subjects that we try and address. 


Expectations

If there is a really important topic pick up the phone or send a text message.  Email although on smart phones and readily available 24 hours a day, you cannot be sure that people will actually see your email especially if it becomes buried in a mass of emails.  Most people don’t prioritize email from certain people or set rules or conditions up to alert them of an important email.  Not even Apples latest and greatest  iPhone email allows you to sort your mail by date or sender, only the order in which they are received.  


Problems

Email has to rely on a huge infrastructure of connected equipment to work.  If one components fails then either the email does not get delivered or it is delayed as the email has to find another route to get to the destination email server and particular mail box of the person you are addressing.  


Other limitations

Most people believe that an email is sent as one complete block of text that we wrote.  The email is actually split up into small chunks and passed on to the next router in line on its way to its destination. It is then assembled by the mail server and sent to the end users email box, then shown on a computer mail program or smart phone as a new message. Typically this whole process takes seconds to a minute to go around the world.



Limitations of an Online chat

An online chat requires that participants are logged on at the same time for conversation to occur. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. 


A disadvantage is that you have to be logged in to view the online chat. Today one will probably get a message notification to a smart phone alerting them a new chat message has been sent to them.


An advantage is you can check the chat later and not feel pressured to respond in real time. 


A message board or threaded discussion is basically a resource archive.  Past conversations are archived for searching.  A typical chat service can offer archived conversations for searching by date or subject or keywords. A good example of this is RC Universe  - https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/


Modern day message boards (social media) all provide integrated email list services, some if not all offering a message service to modern smartphones. Members who sign up have an option to receive new messages posted via email or text notification or even an alert from a smart phone app. 


Expectations

Other limitations are that a social media or message board is easier to manage today than it was years ago.  Partly due to the new software and programming techniques, and ease of administrator roles.   A message board has to meet a certain quality of expectation.  Years ago this was clearly defines, today if we don’t like or agree we just move on and find a another outlet.


Conclusion

Email

As far as these three types of communication are concerned, using these for distance learning will have advantages and disadvantages. Email is email, has not basically changed its functionality, the interface or program has changed significantly over the years, and so has the technology behind the scenes that ensures your email gets delivered to the correct person, all part of what we call the internet. 

Used as learning tool for distance learning from very recent experience does not work.  Email is claimed to have not gotten received, although I have tools to show when it was delivered, read and when the email was opened.  Students have also claimed to have sent email with attached homework but not actually attached the work, resulting in frustration and a failing grade. 


Threaded discussion 

Social media is a non real time approach at keeping communication between groups of people. Don’t have to be present in real time and can pick up the conversation at a later date.  Tends to form two main groups of people, this e that like and those that don’t like a conversation.


Online chat

One needs to be present to participate effectively, as most people will expect a response quickly. Similar to a text message conversation, little moderating as typically between on a few people at a time.









Limitations, expectations, problems or concerns experienced or foresee with three types of distance learning communication mediums

Limitations, expectations, problems or concerns experienced or foresee with three types of distance learning communication mediums. Limita...