Variety is the spice of life: student use of CMC in the context of campus based study

Abstract

At present, courses within British higher education institutions offer a somewhat haphazard patchwork of IT-based learning resources. Through university intranets it is now possible for many students to follow at least parts of their courses online. However, the provision available is highly dependent on local resources and individual tutors. This paper focuses on student discussion supported via computer mediated communication, but not in the context of distance learning. Rather the focus is upon campus-based study, where students are working with one another in a sustained mode over a period of time. In the context of an ESRC 'Virtual Society?' research project we have been using the online dialogues together with interviews and questionnaires to examine two third year level psychology courses at different universities. In both cases tutors used web resources to facilitate computer-mediated communication as an integral part of the course. Different contexts for learning were created by the differing stances of the tutors. One tutor took an active, participatory role whereas the other tutor remained a non-participant. Both, however, wanted to create wide-ranging discussion amongst the learners. The differing roles of tutors were associated with a marked difference in communication styles and perceived learning outcomes.