What if class were like a chat

This is right out of my eTech presentation.

If you have ever taken an online class with a chat component, the video should ring true.  Here are the points I made about chats in online classes.

Chats 

• Inefficient
• Difficult for instructor to control
• Difficult for students to follow
• Painful if you type slow

I have never been in a chat that didn’t take three times as long as any other method of interaction. The quality of the conversation is usually poor because everyone is trying to reply as quickly as possible.

I am part of an Elluminate pilot at UF.  It is an expensive alternative, but the closest thing I’ve seen to a virtual face-to-face class.  It even works well from a dial-up connection.

Thanks to Buzz Dyer for taking the leading role in my chat video.