Chat Experience on June 5, 2008

On the evening of June 5, 2008, I logged on to www.mebeam.com to chat with my fellow students and instructor, Dr. Zeitz. We had the option of using three different venues, chat through WebCT, web cam and microphone through www.mebeam.com and/or through Second Life, a virtual world.

I played it safe on Thursday using the chat and mebeam venue to talk with my colleagues. I’m a digital immigrant who is more comfortable talking face-to-face in a classroom discussion. I miss the human interaction of a group in person. You can see the person’s facial expressions and body language which helps to convene the meaning of their verbal communication. This method of communication is easier for me to follow the conversation as it is occurring than chatting or using mebeam.

Chatting online takes more concentration to follow what is being said by whom and who responded. There is often a lag from when a person asks a question or makes a statement to when this gets answered. During this lag, someone else may interject comments or questions totally different from what someone stated on the previous line.

Mebeam provided an option to visually see and talk to others, but it also had a lag from when someone stated something and to when you actually heard the information.

As far as an aspect of distance learning, chatting and mebeam are a couple of venues which make it possible for individuals from a large geographical area to come together and share thoughts at one time. This is a great way for the cohort to communicate with each other. The discussion component on the WebCT provides us an opportunity to respond to each other, however, chatting gives us real-time responses to current thoughts and questions.

My students would love to have this opportunity to talk with others online through chatting or web cam as a component of class. Most of my students are digital natives and on a regular basis using a form of chatting or web cam to talk with others online. It is natural for them to use this type of method of communication. Often it is easier for them to express themselves online than in person. In order for us to use this type of technology, we would have to do this outside of school, since the school district has these components blocked. It could be an option for me to be available after school during a set time if someone had a question on a current project they were dong.

I wished I had the time to download Second Life and set things up before Thursday night. It sounded like individuals were having a good time in their virtual world. I will be sure to figure things out before the next class discussion. I’m looking forward to checking things out and setting up an avatar. If you have time, go to www.secondlife.com to see for yourself.