Electronic Communication
or
Computer-Mediated Communication
Prerequisite:
Required version of Web browser on your computer
Purpose:
To communicate with other participant(s) and facilitator(s) in different formats
Instructions:
Talk Now or Talk Later
CMC or Computer-Mediated Communication enables the participant to conference with others using different formats. The purpose of communicating with one another is to share ideas and information, answer questions from both the facilitator and the participants, and encourage team chatting. The methods we are discussing for online communication are:
- Synchronous communication: Participants communicate at a designated time determined by the person requesting the conference. This conference is similar to "chat rooms." At Fermilab, we have chosen to use MS Chat as our chat tool for PC users and ChatNet as our chat tool for Macintosh users. Your specifc course may choose different tools. Consult your facilitator or course home page.
- Asynchronous communication is better for more than two participants, especially when you do not need an immediate response. Unlike synchronized communication, the participants can communicate at any time or place. The person initiating the communication sets up a topic for the rest of the participants. Then the participants type their responses whenever they want. Each participant may decide to respond or to read other participant's responses on the topic. This conference is similar to a "bulletin board service." At Fermilab, we have chosen to use COW, available as freeware from the Internet. To follow our modifications when using COW see the tutorial. Your specifc course may choose a different tool. Consult your facilitator or course home page.
- Listservs or mailing lists are used to communicate with larger groups. All the participants of a class could become part of a listserv group. Anyone may send questions, information, etc. to other people in the group through e-mail. The responses may be sent to the individual who initiated the topic or to the entire listserv. To see general listserv information, LInC Online Listserv. Your specifc course may or may not choose to use this type of tool. Consult your facilitator or your course home page.
Make sure the participants and you go through the tutorials first before attempting CMC.
In any of these formats, good netiquette is expected. Read this page and especially read the link on chatiquette.