This course is about a rapidly changing subject and the numbers and uses of computers is schools is one of those things that is changing quickly. Online discussion with instructors and peers, via Forum and class email list, indicating ability to discuss and synthesize course material. As with students, the university has general expectations for the amount of time an instructor should expend on a course, based on the number of credits and lecture sessions. As of this morning there are 125 students enrolled in the class, which means I have under 2 minutes per week for engaging each of you online about content, one minute for grading and under 2 minutes in my office. These unfortunate numbers are the consequence of the industrial mass production of university education.
Most undergraduate courses have similar figures.
Only a few students do this, while the rest listen. I cannot hope to read and reply to all that you write. I don't expect you to read and reflect on all that your classmates are saying either. So you are divided into discussion groups of about 10 people and I will visit and comment to your group, hoping to give your group 10 quality minutes of effort. Please facilitate these discussions by reading carefully and commenting thoughtfully.