即时聊天和异步讨论在网络教学中的作用

以在线聊天和异步讨论这两种即时和延时交流工具为例,在回顾两者优缺点的基础上,通过对美国中西部一所大学的网络课程注册学生和授课教师的调查,探讨了网络教学中这两种交流工具的使用现状,提出了使其最大化地服务于网络教学的思想,即为了更好地促进学习者的互动交流和学习,应将同步聊天和异步讨论两种学习方式结合起来。通过本次调查,希望能对即时和延时两种交流工具有进一步的了解,以期对我国的网络教学方法有一定的启迪。

Effectiveness of Chat Sessions and Discussion Boards in Distance Learning Environments

Online tools,such as discussion boards and online chats,provide means of communication for learners and instructors in distance education classes.After an overview of these tools and a review of the current literature,the present research conducts a survey on the effectiveness of chat sessions and discussion boards as means of facilitating learner interaction in distance learning environments by choosing as participants those graduates and instructors in distance learning classes from one of the mid-western American universities.In addition,it also proposes the idea to maximize the online teaching-the combination of both chat sessions and discussion boards.It aims at a better understanding of these two means of online communication so that it can benefit our distance education at home.