Given this freedom, Doug, a student with previous MUD experience, used his technical knowledge to teach Gary how to engage in a mock fight, akin to informal wrestling or karate. Acting out can cut off interactions. Andre would type words in Russian to confuse and annoy his online partners. Sometimes he used his advanced knowledge of the MUD to leave the group conversation without permission and explore the MUD's imaginary world with a classmate logged on from a nearby computer. The varied online learning experiences of students like Andre, Shelley, Doug, and others show that lessons learned online are influenced by more than on-screen information.
Communication media make possible and likely a range of potential online interactions.
The knowledge and understanding gained by particular students is determined by their online interactions plus many other factors, such as individual learning styles, classroom interactions, and local cultural norms and values.