In my area this is a wonderful tool that might also help students work a little harder to match a peer's level of work.

I agree with some that maybe 140 characters is not a good limit.

I found blogging to be a great teaching tool and have even had stranger chime in.

I could not agree more that social networking is an untapped resource for the online learning environment. Social networking allows for a feeling of community in the online world where students need not feel so anoynymous. One of my only concerns with social networking lies in the lack of etiquette sometimes displeyed. Rude words, comments and any other form of subtle attack that students might resort to in response to a comment or concept that they disagree with. I think that at the beginning of an online course "respect" should be emphasized and demanded for all, by all.

How do social media can enhance communication between the instructor and the students compared to traditional communication tools such as email and phone?

Does anyone else feel really strange giving and recording a Live Chat when no students can make it to class? Even though I am just talking into a webcam either way, I really dislike the feeling. Ron

I cannot tell you how many times I have had students ask me questions like: where is the gradebook, which assignment is due this week. which assignments am I missing. These questions are acceptable in week one, but by week 4 of a 5 week course they are not acceptable to ask, it shows that the student has not explored their virtual environment which is a necessary step for course completion. We must make students take responsibility for their own learning and make them realize this is not grade school, and who said earning a college degree is easy?

Do some use the rubric as a guideline, but allow the learning process to move to other levels to encourage collaboration and community among students to increase quality postings? I like to do this for it helps the students guide their learning and lead collaboration efforts that are more rewarding for the students and the participants. I do also make sure it does not get out of hand and stay on track to meet objectives and outcomes. Monique

Since Generation X are loners and work well alone, they manage themselves and the online environment for learning. Having them in roles of leadership in the classroom may be a good way to get them more engaged and add more value to the learning experience. Is this being intrusive in the student learning process? Monique

How can you stop students from using the text language in the chat box of a synchronous class session? I know there are standards that you can set for S2S interaction, but how do you break them of a habit that is so common place? Monique

Since our new wave of technology, education has become very informal in methods of communication and learning. Sometimes I find the technology refreshing and other times I find that it interferes with learning and relating in the classroom. Online is a more common place dynamic that is reshaping the way we deliver education and receive education. The mindset of the professor behind the podium has become some what obsolete. I miss those days from time to time, but still do enjoy the convenience that technology delivers to education. Can you really have it both ways completely?

It looks like the timeframe for generation Y ends around 1998, so what is the next generation? It is generation Z? How are they different or similar to previous generations?

Do you think it's a good idea to have a class facebook page? That way, all students in the class can have one place to communicate at.

Sometimes I found it difficult to get all students engaged in group projects. When I monitor there discussion history and try interventions I have not been super successful. Any suggestions. I try direct communication and email, but have mixed responses.

I like to use the live chats as a way to establish verbal communication standards as well as remind and reinforce my presence to help them in anyway possible.

When Emailing I try to be consistent with the language I use. I want to model the behavior I want in the emails. this includes subject line, content, and superlatives.

To have a just one student to respond to your out reach is great, but to reach out to multiple is outstanding. I think this take patience and a strong willed person to help these students learn to reach out in a time of need or to go above and beyond to communicate with fellow student's and Instructor's to keep the communication line open.

I like the idea of referring to students by name. The instructor is showing that he or she is paying attention to what the student has to say. The student are more likely to participate in future discussion posts because they have a sense of recognition.

Communication in the virtual class is as important as communication for a student who attends class in a bricks and mortar setting. The environment should be personalized to grab the student's attention. Students should be encouraged to introduce themselves in the class forum. If students are aware of all the expectations required for the course, they too, will follow the instructor's lead.

I like using VoiceThread. This tool helps students and instructors to leave comments in text or voice. This enhances visual learning through an image-based interactive discussion.