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-- the Labyrinth September 1993 --

Write, Discuss, Communicate
on the Electronic Forum

Karen Schwalm, GCC
The Electronic Forum (EF) is a powerful technology-based resource available for teaching and learning at Maricopa. Some of the instructional activities supported by the Electronic Forum include:

Electronic Journals

Electronic Journals support conventional classroom learning by providing computer-mediated writing and discussion opportunities outside of regularly- scheduled class times. They promote student interaction by establishing an environment where class members can discuss materials related to the course but not covered in class, share summaries and reviews of assigned readings, report on outside events, collaborate on problem-solving strategies, brainstorm particularly difficult issues, and provide written feedback of classmates' writing. Students write informally, much as they would speak in class, and can read and comment on the contributions of other class members. The risk-taking encouraged by the privacy of conventional journal writing is provided by the use of pen names in electronic journals, names chosen by students themselves. Faculty can administer and set up the journals to reflect instructional goals: discussion groups can be formed, writing shared, and feedback or direction given to the anonymous author or to the instructor.

Class Discussions

Electronic class discussions help to provide students with alternative perspectives. Many students are unaware of other views on controversial issues; they frequently think that most people agree with their position. EF provides opportunities for students to analyze and comment on other students' views.

Feedback

Students can provide immediate feedback to an instructor on lectures, activities, tests, or class progress. Conventionally, student feedback occurs long after the course has ended. If teachers can discern what students are having difficulty understanding at the immediately to help ensure more effective learning.

Study

Groups of students can meet electronically to study or collaborate on assigned projects, a more flexible option than trying to schedule conventional meeting times. Some faculty members merely help students arrange groups; others actually establish electronic "places" (subforums) for groups to meet privately; and others meet with students in those "places" when requested.

Private Mail - fostering student communication

Students working together can communicate with each other across time and space using Mail. They can use Mail to send drafts of papers to others for critique, and the student reviewer can send comments back. Students can also communicate privately with the instructor. Teachers can use Mail to contact students who have missed class; the same message can be sent to several students easily, and EF will note if the messages have been read.

Classroom Resources

Instructors can make supplementary materials (bibliography, study questions, sample exercises, papers or tests) readily available to all students on-line. This saves paper and trees. Student work can be published electronically so that the entire class can benefit. Polling Capabilities

Polls can encourage students to think about complex issues. Students can either reply or delay their response to the issue to argue for one position or another. After they decide and register their position, they can see where others in the class stand.

Polls can also be used to activate thinking before a topic is introduced as well as to encourage students to apply new information presented in lectures by asking after-lecture poll questions. Additionally, polls can also be used to see if students understand concepts presented in lectures before testing.

Record keeping

Set-up of class journals is easy and quick. Rosters are loaded from SIS, and activity in the class journal is tracked automatically. Record keeping is even less complicated than keeping an electronic gradebook!

For more information on how to get started using the Electronic Forum in your classroom, contact one of the following faculty members:

Maricopa Center for Learning & Instruction (MCLI)
The Internet Connection at MCLI is Alan Levine --}
Comments to alan.levine@domail.maricopa.edu