Computer Love: Removing the Distance in Online Classes with Virtual Communication Tools
Keywords:
SECRJ, Southeast Case research Association, interactive learning, online teaching, asynchronous learning, synchronous learning, transactional distance theory, caseAbstract
Dr. Nancy Bell is a trailblazer instructor who uses real-time online sessions to enhance communication and student engagement for her online classes at El Durango College. From years of teaching, she has experienced the positive impact that her live online sessions have on her students’ critical thinking and collaboration. Her students, who are geographically dispersed or whose schedules does not permit participation in a traditional classroom, report in her course evaluations that they learn a lot and receive engaging real-time class interaction in her online classes. Ernest Lee, however, one of Dr. Bell’s students, is enjoying her class, but occasionally hitting roadblocks with maintaining Internet connection during her live online sessions. While Dr. Bell’s live online classes produce positive teaching and learning experiences in live sessions, Ernest's experience with unexpected and uncontrollable technical connectivity issue is stressful. He is feeling isolated because he seems to be the only student in his classes experiencing connection issues. Although the live online sessions are recorded, he is missing the social connection with Dr. Bell and the other online students.
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