Beyond chat on the internet
Synchronous Computer Mediated Communications (CMC) are becoming increasingly important to education, Not only do they offer quick access to information over the Internet, but they also fit well into the current emphasis on collaboration and communications in education in general. The simplest such programs, such as Internet Relay Chat, allow learners to exchange information in real time. Others, such as, MUDs and MOOs, immerse learners into a virtual world, although still entirely text-based. Other synchronous CMC or chat programs include 2D graphical backgrounds, characters associated with each participant, props and costumes for those characters, and other elements that enhance the communications experience. This paper describes the opportunities and pitfalls of using graphical chat programs in education, in addition to ongoing research and development. Some guidelines for using the program in education are derived from both our research and our experience. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
computer-mediated communications learning communities distributed learning environment