Also, I wanted to apologize for this entry being late. I went home for the weekend and was without internet and unable to post it today (Sunday) until now. Thanks!

Electronic learning, or e-learning was first implemented into an education program in 1960 with the PLATO System (link). After the PLATO system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO was created, the Science Research Council wrote the first CAI program or grades kindergarten though sixth grade. Followed by that, WISE was created by WICAT Systems. It is from these designs that the entire computer learning centers globally evolved.

E-learning uses technology ranging from e-mail, blogs, and discussion boards, to learning management software, text chat, and screen casts. Online learning and education has been traditionally suited to distance learning but has more recently been used in conjunction with face to face teaching, called blended learning.

There has been much debate in the field of online education. The most argued issue in electronic learning is the lack of face to face interaction with a professor or teacher. These critics of e-learning argue that the process is “no longer educational in the highest philosophical sense.” This argument implies that teaching systems in school should follow a “traditional” way of teaching because it is the right way to teach and learn. When I was explaining this topic to some of my friends, one person said that online education is not a good idea because a student needs to listen to a professor in person and be able to see them in person rather than just reading lectures and information off online classrooms or websites. He thought that this was the only way a person can learn. What he failed to take into consideration was that even if in-class education is the only way he can learn, others may comprehend information better when reading in an online environment.

Online education is a great tool for students who can only learn in unconventional ways. E-learning is also typically cheaper and more accessible than in class learning. Flexibility and convenience are also major advantages because they allow learners to participate and complete coursework in accordance with their daily commitments. This makes an e-learning education a good option for those that have other commitments such as family or work. With e-learning there is more variety in learning experience with the use of multimedia and non-verbal teaching material.

Some disadvantages of e-learning include the lack of face-to-face interaction with a teacher. Along with this problem can come feelings of isolation. However, discussion forums and other computer-based communication can help and encourage students to meet face-to-face and form self-help groups. Discussion groups can also be formed on-line.

I included a video about The Virtual Linguistics Campus. It’s a learning environment entirely online that teaches from 600-800 students each semester that is run by 15 people. The video discusses the success of the campus and how it works. http://youtube.com/watch?v=waSOfrEIJWE

Just a reminder, when you post, please include your name!!!!

Even though it took awhile to get our class under control today, I really enjoyed the online chat. I do agree that our generation is shifting into a more technological life and that we spend less time with face-to-face human interactions. I think that having some classes online in chat rooms is okay as long as it’s not every class. There’s nothing that can compare to an in-class learning experience. I mean if we had classes in chat rooms every day, why not just get a degree from DeVry University Online? I think a limited amount is a good idea especially considering we already bring our laptops to classes that are boring and even text all the way through interesting courses. Along with the issue we talked about with technology at dinner- I always had my cell in my pocket and on vibrate just in care someone texted me, I could respond discretely without my parents knowing. My dad always had his Blackberry on him in case he got an important email and my mom would jump up if the phone ever rang. I personally hate the way that society has shifted this way but I am thankful that at least we can all sit down for dinner. I mean, when’s the day going to come where families sit at there personal computes in their separate bedrooms eating dinner while in a chat room communicating with each other?

My main topic for the crossfire paper is “The Internet as an Addiction” and online shopping, online gambling, and online gaming as the subsections. I found an article on a website called M/Cyclopedia entitled, “Online Shopping- Benefits for Buyers” that supports online shopping. It lists the obvious benefits, such as shopping in the convenience of your own home and that online shopping is much faster than driving out to a store. However, the article also explains that shoppers from around the world can “gain more information about a company and its products.” Also, online shopping breaks down time zone and distance barriers. For example, customers in the United States can shop for Japanese tea at any hour in the day. Although I had never thought about it, but a company’s website can showcase more products than it can in a store or even catalogue. From the selling and production side of online buying, companies save money on retailers and can lower their costs of production, therefore lowering the price of the product and increasing total revenue. The article also presents the issue that it is easier for elderly people to shop online than to drive to a shopping mall because transportation “is usually not as readily available to them.” However, the article didn’t mention anything about the ability of the elderly to work a computer or browse the internet. I know that my grandmother barely knows how to access her email account, let alone purchase our Christmas presents online. I have included the link to the article- it’s pretty short so if you’re also interested in the same topic check it out.

http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Online_Shopping_-_Benefits_for_Buyers

Erik Altieri – http://ilovelenin.blogspot.com/
Habib Awan – http://mexistan1006.livejournal.com/
Jeff Bloom – http://bloomj.blogspot.com/
Stacey Cohen – http://scohen06.blogspot.com/
Adam Dexter – http://cw1040.blogspot.com/
Alex Engler – http://alex-questionablecontent.blogspot.com/
Kate Gradijan – http://happytinsel.blogspot.com/
Anisha Imhoff-Kerr – http://nmstateofmine.livejournal.com/
Evan Leurding – http://evanluerding.blogspot.com/
Stephen Nagle – http://metallicinflux.livejournal.com/
Stetson Nunes – http://stetsonn.blogspot.com/
Josh Offsie – http://joshoffsie.blogspot.com/
Kellen Quigley – http://kellenquigley.blogspot.com/
Saverio Romeo – http://technologyhub.blogspot.com/
Ryan Rosoff – http://ryanrosoff.blogspot.com/
Clare Shepard – http://clareshepherd.blogspot.com/
Liz Watson – http://elizabethwatson.livejournal.com/
Will White – http://itsatraaap.blogspot.com/
Jeff Wilson – http://nine-thirty.blogspot.com/

I've been thinking about topics for the crossfire research paper and I think I'm going to focus it on the addictiveness of the internet and how the addictiveness of regular activities can be magnified by the use of the internet. For example, gambling is an addictive activity on its own but with the recent popularity of online gambling, people are even more addictive. Online gambling is so convenient for people and it also diminishes the guilt in laying down chips at a poker table.

Another big issue for high school and college students is the amount of time they spend playing video games. And now with online gaming, it's extremely easy to have a word document open working on a research paper in one window and a MUD open in another. Other addictive uses from the internet include chat rooms, IMing, and such social networking sites like facebook and myspace.

Let me know what you guys think and if you have any suggestions on this topic. Thanks!

I just finished reading the article by Charles Platt entitled, What’s It Meant to be Human Anyway? For the THIRD time and I think that I’ve just about read the interactions between the humans and computers FIVE times. I mean does any one else in this class understand the conversations that are going on?!?!? I understand and appreciate that these people are attempting to create computers and programs that can act like humans but they didn’t do a very good job. In fact, the interaction that won didn’t seem very “human-like” at all. The computer repeated the same phrase twice—that should have automatically disqualified the person from winning. What human says the exact same phrase in the same conversation? Furthermore, I still do not see the purpose in computers being programmed sound human and have conversations with humans. Any human who wants to sit at a computer and talk to a computer that’s being passed off as a human has DEEP psychological problems. I mean, video games, online games, and games against computers are fun to play and are good forms of entertainment. But, why do they have to ACT human so much that they can talk to us?? Okay well I’m just getting myself confused and frustrated. I’m just trying to argue that programming computers is beneficial when it comes to entertainment and sciences—but it gets kind of freaky when computers can pass for humans. I personally believe that (REAL) human interactions are irreplaceable no matter how far advanced our technological age has become.

First off, I have to say that I am VERY new to this whole world of computers and technology and MUD's. I am not adept with computer or the internet, nor am I a big fan of video games. I chose to take this section for college writing because I really want to learn about an entire new aspect of the internet that goes beyond facebook and itunes. So, please be patient with me and correct me if I mix up MUDs with MOOs with RPGs. Thanks!

Last week I wrote that video games were the worst invention of the past few years and after thinking about it I've decided that its not video games in general, but rather the rapid increase in their popularity that has caused negative outcomes in our society. Last class we discussed the difference between teens and young adults who play video games and go on MUD’s as opposed to the players and gamers who get so addicted and consumed into their “fantasy world” that they neglect their own reality. This is what I believe to be the major problem with video games. Their dramatic increase in popularity within past years is reflected in the older generations of video gamers. I think that some regulations placed upon video games to children at young ages could help prevent adults from becoming addicted at later points in time.

People constantly try to finds ways to have fun and escape from the dullness of day to day life through such things as books, games, drugs, video games, alcohol, TV, and other activities. But at what point does escaping reality become a vindictive obsession? How far is too far?