CMC as an educational tool, Demario Turner

Online education is defined as the creation and proliferation of the personal computer, the globalization of ideas and other human acts, and the use of technology in exchanging ideas and providing access to more people (Natarajan, 2006 p. 250) The online teaching tools such as email, discussion boards, chat rooms, lecture notes via the web, use of computer-mediated-communication (CMC), interactive web tutorials, CD-ROM materials and virtual environments helps for better understanding by the student community (Natarajan, 2006 p. 249)and is transforming the nature of interactions among counselors, school personnel, parents, students, and school administrators(Wilczenski & Coomey, 2006).
Multimedia educational computing is one of the fastest growing markets in the world today and the latest tools are enabling educators to become developers and individuals to construct multimedia desktop productions (Natarajan, 2006). Many studies suggest that because foreign language learners often experience problems with spontaneous oral communication and difficulty understanding others as well as difficulty being understood CMC as an educational tool can reduce communication apprehension, which is defined as a type of shyness characterized by fear of or anxiety about communicating with others (Arnold, 2007). This can also be related to Intercultural communication as well as student who learn English as a second language.
CMC has also been used as a tool to foster beginning teacher’s development through discussion, for example teachers may be asked to us asynchronous or synchronous communication formats in their coursework to confer with each other about instructor-selected, case studies, educational themes and issues (Groenke & Paulus, 2007). Researcher have also found that discussion through CMC tools can promote collaborative, learner-centered connected; making multiple perspective talking on educational issues, clarification, elaboration of understanding, and reflection thus promoting teacher’s learning (Groenke & Paulus, 2007).
Another use of CMC as an educational tool is cooperative learning and it incorporation of CMC. Many researchers have documented deaf student’s struggles with reading, writing and communicating in the classroom, since the inception of the education for all handicapped children act in 1975 the mainstreaming of students with disabilities has become more and more common, the technological advances of email, IM, and text pagers has revolutionized the way deaf people can communicate with hearing people and one another (Pandian, 2007). This type of CMC technologies eliminate some of the communication barriers that exist between deaf students who rely on amplification devices and interpreters in the classroom CMC also seeks to break down language and communication barriers by bringing equal access to participate through one shared mode of communication (Pandian, 2007).
The successful use of online technology depends on well designed and planned courses, infrastructure and price considerations, capacity and training in the chosen technology, local design and proper pre-testing and relative ease of access to students; one needs to understand how to tie the elements together using educational multimedia computer tools and if done so properly, interactive multimedia excels in leaving lasting impressions in the teaching and learning process (Natarajan, 2006).


References:
Gronke, S.L., & Paulus, T. (2007). The role of teacher questioning in promoting dialogic literary inquiry in computer-mediated-communication. Journal of research on technology in education. 40(2), 141-164.
Natarajan, M. (2006).Use of online technology for multimedia education . National institute of science communication and information resources. 26, 249-256.
Arnold, N. (2007).Reducing foreign language communication apprehensions with computer-mediated-communication: A preliminary study. Science direct. 35, 469-486.
Wilczenski, F.L., & Coomey, S.M. (2006). Cyber-communication: Finding its place in school counseling practice, education, and professional development. Professional school counseling , 9, Retrieved July 1, 2008, from http://web.ebcohost.comezproxy.lib.asu.edu/ehost/delivery?vid=22&hid=106&sid=5b0.
Pandian, M. ( Aug 2007). Cooperative learning incorporating computer-mediated-communication: participations, learning outcomes in a deaf education classroom. Language in India, 7, Retrieved July 1 2008, from http://web.ebcohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ehost/delivery?vid=15&hid=106&sid=5b0.