Return-Path: <nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i2VJRwm03008; Wed, 31 Mar 2004 14:28:08 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 14:28:08 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <a05200f26bc90b0ef0d0e@[192.168.1.101]> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Jennifer Elmore <jennifer@jelmore.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1282] Re: : participating online or at a distance X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Status: O Content-Length: 2468 Lines: 60 Hi Janet - and all. I think face-to-face meetings can have a significant impact on the quality of online interaction. I've facilitated pure distance courses as well as hybrid training experiences (that is, PD involving in-person and distance components). I definitely prefer and recommend the hybrid approach, if at all possible; I'm a big fan of "bookending" online training with face-to-face meetings for the following reason(s). I feel that in-person time (particularly, a training "kick-off") can help create a foundation for online community. My general sense is that participants enjoy meeting in real time/space. Having the chance to connect with colleagues in a tangible setting seems to facilitate the move into the (perhaps less familiar) virtual arena. I think folks generally feel more secure about participating actively online, if they both know and are committed to their audience. In a pure distance situation, however, participants do not always "know who's out there." Even if the online course provides space for bios, introductions, etc., a lot of people (in pure distance groups) tend hang back initially because they want to get a sense of the crowd before entering the online fray. The upshot of this is - conversation is slower to get started. This start-up lull can cause some participants lose interest/momentum - which, in turn, can set the stage for sporadic participation overall. In a nutshell, I think that pure distance training experiences tend to require more from the facilitator, especially at first. S/he bears more of the community-building burden, I think, and must be prepared to actively engage participants - both individually and as a group. Jennifer Jennifer Elmore, M.S.Ed Education Consultant http://jelmore.com >One thing I wonder about, too, is face to face interaction. I was >peripherally part of a distance course last spring out of Lancaster, >UK, and believe that participants (all within the UK) had an >opportunity to meet together at the beginning and end of the course. >(If anyone from that course is online, please jump in and correct >anything I've mis-understood). > >Obviously, face to face meetings aren't possible in many instances, >but when we're talking about regional learning, it seems to make >sense to bring people together to start building the connections >they'll need and want to maintain electronically. > >other thoughts? > >Janet Isserlis
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