Lessons from the Virtual Classroom: The Realities of Online Teaching, 2nd Edition
by Rena M. Palloff, Keith Pratt
CHAPTER EIGHT
ONLINE CLASSROOM DYNAMICS
As we work with instructors in online teaching, we are frequently asked why some online classroom groups seem to flourish and others flounder. Despite instructors' best attempts at community development, the students never seem to achieve a rhythm with one another or with the instructor. The same, of course, might be said about face-to-face classrooms. The answer lies in the classroom dynamics, and more specifically, in the group dynamics. With increased knowledge of online group dynamics, instructors can more easily adjust their strategies for dealing with problems such as difficult students or waning participation. Luckily, this has become an area of increasing awareness and study (Becker, 2003; Bell ...