Communication and Collaboration in the Online Classroom

What is the appropriate role of technology in teaching and learning environments? In this collection of essays, technology is described as an enabler. The contributing authors explain and analyze the ways in which they have incorporated interactive technologies into their instructional practices and curriculum. Each of these case studies provides readers with a frame for understanding the relationships between technology and the processes of communicating and learning in instructional settings. This book provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the human communication issues that must be addressed in higher education as interactive technologies evolve and continue to impact instructional design and practice. It is organized into three sections: the first, Program Development for Distance Education, presents the authors' efforts to adapt and develop graduate degree programs for distance education; the second, Professional Collaborative Endeavors: Teaching Across the Distance, examines courses taught in audio/video environments as well as online team-taught courses; the third, Creating Online Learning Communities: A Focus on Communication and Student-Centered Learning in Virtual Classrooms, describes the tools and objective involved in creating online learning communities. Written for faculty, administrators, graduate students, and scholars in higher education, this book is a useful guide for anyone with a particular interest in communication and collaborative learning in the online environment.