Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | A | Academic Exchange Quarterly

This life in WebCT.

Article Excerpt
Abstract

For several years, I was almost exclusively the traditional student. At the same time, I also benefited from evening and weekend college course offerings. Over the last year, however, I became acquainted with WebCT, the learning resource for online classes. Through my experiences with WebCT, and as a result of the classes I took (Science and Ethics, Logic, Modern Logical Analysis, Art Appreciation, Fundamental Concepts of Information and Computer Technology, Beginning Italian), I have a better basis for understanding the developments that have taken place in WebCT, as well as the experiential techniques that make online learning relatable to traditional classroom learning. In fact, this Spring 2003 I am taking a traditional class that requires participation in WebCT as an additional tool for learning.

First, a Dialogue Between the Student and Her Professor

Vanessa Raney, VR. If you give me some direction, good material and a challenge, then, yeah, I make a great student--even with your online Science and Ethics class. I learned a lot from you because you demanded my active participation, posted interesting links and gave exams that were both objective and subjective. More important, your class was structured more like a traditional class. However, I've also had professors who don't really push you to learn, or who just stick to the subject material they cover in class. That's really frustrating sometimes.

Madeleine Pepin, MP. Yes, but you've confused "the way I like to learn things" and "enjoyable-less enjoyable" with learning styles and teaching effectiveness.

VR. Yeah, but you were really great! Of course, I had trouble taking you for Logic and then Modern Logical Analysis online. I think part of it was that I couldn't see what you were doing, and the textbook was a little hard to follow. I probably would've done a lot better in a traditional class, because then I could've asked you questions or at least followed what you were saying.

MP. I disagree. On logic and modern logical analysis--you wouldn't have done better by hearing or seeing it--in a once-a-week format, I doubt that you'd have even passed. Your problem with those subjects is that you rely on your very high verbal comprehension, and verbal comprehension isn't the skill/ability they call for. They're analysis subjects, are primarily visual, and are constructed piece by piece. You like to grasp wholes, then look at details later--preferably as a result of discussion. And, you like to do nothing for several days, then dive in, straggle, and "surface." These are learning strategies, not what is meant by "learning styles." The...

View this article FREE - Now for a Limited Time, try Goliath Business News
Free for 3 Days!