Sibyl Minighini

EDUU 551

Notes for Grabe & Grabe Chapter 5

Chapter Five – The Internet as a Tool for Communication

- The internet is based on a type of computer-to-computer transfer of information

called transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) (171).
Different computers have different IP addresses.

- The internet is part of higher-order thinking skills in that it allows for students to
problem-solve and find information for inquiry (174). The internet can also be
used as a tool for construction, in that it can showcase student productions.

- E-mail (178) is a wonderful tool that allows students access to a free method of
communication, where they can write to others and store information. Students
also have access to mailing lists (179), which allow them to stay in touch with
educational associations.

- Conferences (180) allow students to interact with others in real-time, and

facilitate their access to material contributed by others, including the instructor.

- Chat rooms and instant messaging (182) allow students and the instructor to
interact in real-time to communicate about course curriculum. This kind of service
provides an alternative to asynchronous (time has to elapse between outgoing and
incoming messages) communication.

- Videoconferencing (184) is an adventurous form of communication where

students need to create their own medium related to course content. Sound and
image can be challenging.

- Computer-mediated communication (CMC) (185) refers to online

communication. Advantages include the possibility of many students using this
communication at the same time, and de-emphasizing the teacher as a figure of
authority. Problems include a lack of cues and online conduct problems.

- Collaborative argumentation (193) refers to students intelligently debating

topics on which there are many differences of opinion. CMC facilitates this kind
of structured communication through messaging and allowing the input of many
students at the same time.

- Instructors need to decide how to evaluate and grade online responses. It is

important to stay consistent with the grading guidelines.

- It is important to realize that the quality of online responses increases as students

 become more familiar with the formats involved.

- Instructors wear many hats when facilitating online discussion, ranging from
collaborator to technical advisor to instructional expert.