Friday 11 October 2013

In cyber space no-one can hear you scream

I feel that my blog will serve two purposes this year. One to reflect on my activities throughout and engage in the course material. But two - to reflect on online learning and how this module differs from the last.
I was talking about scaffolding (ah yes Salmon and  H807, I haven't forgotten you), and in the context of this new module it is interesting. I started my OU journey with H807, Innovations in E-learning. This was a wholly online course, well planned and run , with lots of scaffolding. At this point, one week in,I had met with my fellow students online, chatted with them and started talking about the course content. Currently, I feel like I am back in the 1990s, when you get your package of materials through the post (although this is a huge bone of contention, as many people have not received this yet), and it's up to you. The tutor has welcomed us, and I have posted a message on the module forum (which is already looking messy) but it doesn't feel like I am part of a wider community. There is indeed a Facebook page but at the moment its not really appealing to me.

Now - this is interesting. I don't like the Facebook page as a medium. Why is that? Is it because I am a bit snobbish? Facebook to me is only inhabited to stay in touch with my close friends and family. It's very informal and it usually makes me smile. My friends offer fun, laughter and inspiration. I have never used it in an educational or work context. In fact, I logged in to the model page using my work account (no picture , no friends). I felt that I did not want strangers to have access to my normal Facebook account. So here I am, managing my online appearance! Maybe my dislike of the Facebook will change as I get to know people. Maybe it won't. For me my fellow OU students are exactly that - fellow students. Therefore I want them to be student colleagues and not friends. 

So,is this the traditional isolation of the distance package of learning but in a modern context?