Cyberspace Relationships

While grading posts from last week, I came across this post and comments. Give it a read and let me know what you think. Go ahead and leave a comment on my post here.

A quick note: I have been teaching Comm 105P for a few years now, and rarely do students make the connection that the relationships we have in this class either solely exist (or mostly exist) in cyberspace. What are you thoughts??????


From thelittletomatoe

Interestingly enough, the only cyber space relationships I have ever made are in this class. This being my first online class, I figured we would still have to meet with the teacher from time to time, or come to campus to take exams. As it turns out, I feel I am probably getting to know my fellow students from this class better than many of my other courses because I have a chance to read each and everyone’s point of view on our subject matter. This is great because often when we are physically in class, students don’t always take the opportunity to voice their opinions. The downside to these relationships that we have made in comm. 105p is that we are less likely to keep in touch afterward. We most likely wont recognize each other and say hi while cruising around campus. And unlike other classes where we are physically present, we wont go grab a beer together afterward.

7 comments:

Eleanor Rigby said...

When writing my post I didn’t even think about this class as a cyberspace relationship but it totally is. And I agree with you on the fact that this class lets me get to know my classmates better then a regular seminar class would. Because we all have our blogs under an alias whatever we write is protected so we can be completely honest even though we do not know anyone who is reading our posts. An online classroom setting is definitely more comfortable for me. I am not under the pressures that are presented in a normal classroom setting and unlike formal classes, we all get to communicate with each other instead of just a few people in the front of the class participating.

July 21, 2010 10:54 AM

Sunshine said...

You are right this class has helped to form cyberspace relationships!!! This class is my first time blogging. Like you said we all get an opportunity to have our say and have others view it. This does not happen in regular classroom settings. It is really sad that we will not recognize each other on campus. However, I feel this anonymity factor has allowed more students to participate and give their views without the added pressure of being recognized. I agree with Eleanor this class has given every one an equal opportunity to participate unlike in normal classrooms where the people in the front dominate classroom participation!!!

July 21, 2010 5:14 PM

Sweet Dee said...

I also agree with the previous comments. The fact that this is an online class makes it easier to discuss our opinions honestly. I also think that we get to know each other better because we are so open with our viewpoints.
It is sad that when the class is over we probably won't talk anymore. I have really enjoyed this class and getting to know everyone. I also think that is what makes this class special. We are able to get to know each other on a deeper level than in a seminar class but the downside is that the relationships probably won't continue.

July 22, 2010 4:40 PM

NeneD said...

I love how you used the relationships from this class as your cyber relationships. It didn’t even occur to me that we all are building relationships through our blogs, but we are. I agree with you about feeling like you are getting to know the people in this class better than people in other classes. Although we are not meeting in a classroom and seeing each other every week, we are learning a lot more about each other and we are sharing more information than we would necessarily be sharing in a physical classroom. This brings up a point in which I have thought about many times before. Relationships that are based upon writing, such as letters, emails, or AIM, sometimes get to a deeper level quicker than face to face. I know many people who are able to write their thoughts better than express them when talking to me face to face. It is odd but something that seems to be true, at least from my experience. I have been able to share my opinions on our class subjects much more in this class than I do when I am physically sitting in class. It may be just my personality but it is easier to write and discuss with a computer screen than it is to a whole bunch of faces. Great points! Sorry for my rant. Haha.

July 23, 2010 6:18 PM

MyComm said...

So true! It is very unlikely that I will stop you on campus and say hi because I don't know what you look like. Actually, now that I think about that it is kind or weird. But, I must say that I agree that I feel the same way about getting to know our classmates better online vs. in a classroom. I am normally very reserved about what I say in class compared to our posts. I love that I have the freedom to write what I am really thinking and have to reservations. Well, that's not true. I have many hestitations about what I write in my posts. :)

July 23, 2010 10:16 PM

Abraham Rademacher said...

Obviously you've struck a cord with the members of this class by the amount of posts to your comment :) I too never considered this class as an example of purely cyberspace relationships, but it obviously is a great one.
One possible explanation for the quality of relationships formed in our class, as compared to conventional classes, is the thoughtfulness of the responses. In a typical classroom discussion we need to respond on the spot. Conversely, in this class we have more time to construct a thoughtful response. I believe it is the quality of the responses that give us deeper insight to one another. I do however feel, as you do, that these relationships will likely only last as long as the class. It seems that f2f is needed for truly lasting relationships.