- Session 6: On-Line Dialog
- In this final session, we'll begin by looking at the mechanics of creating a space for dialog among students and faculty as part of a course. One option for doing this is to set up a newsgroup for the course. As you can see from this list, there are many such newsgroups here at SDSU. With a newsgroup, you can invite the participation of classes and colleagues at other campuses, or you can keep the group private and accessible only to SDSU participants. To create a widely available newsgroup, use the SDSU Newsgroup Request Form. To keep it restricted, fill out the Trident Newsgroup Request Form.
- Another alternative is to create a web-based forum, as in these examples:
Setting these up requires that specialized software be set up on your webserver. SDSU is exploring several options along these lines.
A third option for creating a learning community to go with your class is to set up a listserv. The process for doing that here at SDSU begins by your filling out the MajorDomo List Request Form. You might also encourage your students to join other lists connected with your discipline. The page on E-mail Discussion Groups will help you to locate those. As an in-class exercise, you'll be looking for lists in your field and reporting to the rest of us on what you found.
- Future Plans
- To consolidate some of the discussion that we've had in this workshop series, we'll take a look at an excerpt from the PBS teleconference held yesterday called Putting Your Course Online. As you view the tape, be thinking about these questions: what will it take to get your own course online? What resources will you need? What ideas do you have? How is developing for distance education different from supporting a face-to-face course?
- To gather more ideas, we'll spend a few minutes looking at:
- Finally, it's time to reflect on your next steps. What action plan can you draft for yourself? You can post your thoughts on a forum associated with EDTEC 572 by clicking here.