Interpersonal Communication in Computer Mediated Learning
The paper describes increasing media richness and social presence in computer-mediated learning. It notes that in online courses, feedback is very important for students to maintain progress, and what ties the student group together is a common goal such as finishing the course with a decent grade. As for communication research, the paper suggests that the ethnographic researcher will have to find a way to penetrate the online community and then remain as an active participant to understand and become part of the community world of his or her subjects. When this is accomplished, an effective analysis and interpretation can be completed. (Contains 30 references.) (NKA)
