DIARY: April 9, 2009

In the paper I am working on talks about discourse devices and how they can be useful in an online environment. Author Judith Lapadat explains in her article how such devices can create community, increase coherence and negotiate agreement. All of these methods are important in creating a successful online classroom. I think that the more those students address these issues the more students will be able to function with each in an online environment.

I feel that it is important that students have a place where they can talk freely among themselves about the subject materials. Students should be able to agree and disagree without feeling like uncomfortable doing it. The needs to be inclusion among the class especially in a online setting. Since knowledge of a subject is important, students must engage so that they can learn the material that the instructor has given. In the end, they are able to forge new friendship and develop knowledge of a subject that they can use in the future.

I enjoyed Lapadat article and found some interesting information while doing the paper. I have learned a lot in this class and look forward to applying the information in my future work.