COM10003 Learning and Communicating Online
Assessment 3: Reflective essay
This essay will discuss how my use of online information has grown from being merely a consumer, to now being able to critically evaluate online sources for credibility and suitability for use in academic work. My role in producing an online informational resource has been enhanced by both the readings, and the experience gained in the collaborative process involved in working as a team. This is my first experience at online collaboration and I will examine the challenges encountered using this medium of communication, how I dealt with them, the lessons learned, and what I would do differently during future collaborative work.
Before this course, my experience
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35-36) as mentioned earlier, and ratifying the information by other credible sources, such as www.drugfreeworld.org. Apon revisiting the web site NewsComAu.com, I realised that I had overlooked certain criteria while compiling our online presentation, and although the website’s coverage and currency are good, and the information I used is ratified by other sources, I now notice that the article I used is not referenced and the website is full of advertisements and sensational stories, which although not wrong in itself, would tend to question the objectivity and in turn the authority of the site, and I would hesitate to use it again, NewsComAu, (2014). Eelink.net (1999) inform us that although it is wise to evaluate a website, that ‘good information can be found on bad sites’, and re affirms the need to evaluate the information found on a website as well as the website itself. This becomes particularly applicable if we cannot find information on our subject of research on so called ‘good sites’, which may in fact turn out to have a bias regarding even reporting certain information. This leads us to consider our personal bias, which according to Eelink.net (1999) we all have. Our bias needs to be taken into consideration, because if unchecked this could cause us to dismiss information while researching a subject simply because we personally disagree with it,
I agree with Weaver et al. (2010) that the introduction of Wiki has opened up a new experience for off campus students studying online. I found that using the Wiki this semester provided me with the opportunity to strengthen my overall communication and leadership skill’s. Working collaboratively online suited my lifestyle by not having to stick to strict deadlines and allowing me to contribute to the assignment in my own time. Completing an online presentation using Prezi and Wiki allowed my ELA to see how much each individual contributed, which I felt encouraged other team members to contribute equally as a majority of it was assessed according to the individual’s contributions. In order to utilize this advantage I made sure that my contributions were noted on the Wiki to demonstrate that I was fully involved and committed to my group and this ensured that my hard work did not go unrecognised. Since I have started my course with Swinburne I have found the blackboard discussions to be extremely helpful and beneficial from social constructivism by feeding off one another’s ideas. I concur with the Chiong and Jovanovic (2012) observation that online
“Before proceeding, it is useful to clarify our definition of bias. Most important, the definition has nothing to do with the honesty or accuracy of the news outlet. Instead, our notion is more like a taste or preference” (Groseclose & Milyo, 2005).
The article was quite easy to interpret correctly, and the language was much simpler to understand. This site was not biased from any point, as its purpose was to inform rather than to persuade
When discussing whether or not a news source is biased, what “unbiased” news looks like needs to be established. In order to evaluate whether or not bias exists, there needs to be an objective news source that would serve as a comparison; however, finding this objective news source proves to be a problem and that problem lies within the subjective nature of bias (Alessio). This means that there is no clear consensus as to what constitutes bias or not. For example, some studies have shown that there is a liberal media bias due to a greater proportion of liberal journalists and anchors while others have shown a conservative bias due to the fact that news corporations are businesses and that business aspect predispositions the news towards conservatism (Alession). Also, consumers of media are also more likely to perceive bias when introduced to media that ran in opposition to their own position (Eveland). This stems from the fact that people’s notions and personal biases often make-up their own reality and any deviation from it is automatically is rejected as “biased.” However, according to D’Alessio and Allen, there are certain tangible properties of bias that can be applied to help determine if a source is biased. Firstly, the bias must be intentional, influential, threatening to common
Reliability and credibility of a website is extremely important when we seek information. A good method to corroborate if the source is trustworthy is to identify the authors credentials, who is sponsoring the page, and if the information could be verified. Judgments emitted by experts in any field can give the notion that those arguments are valid. An error committed by Renee Schoof on his article was to not include the sources from which preceded the information he present. The process of verifying facts involves identifying these sources of information; this in turn helps to assess whether the information is reliable.
Throughout the duration of this unit, my use of online information has expanded from being a consumer of information, to now understanding how to critically evaluate online sources for credibility and suitability during my academic studies. During the process of producing an online informational resource, I have enhance my knowledge by the use of weekly learning materials and readings, and the collaborative process that was involved during the teamwork experience. Prior to transferring and beginning my online learning journey at Swinburne University, I had completed three units of study online at a different university. However, this was my first online collaboration experience to this extent and I will examine how my role as a producer, consumer
I see that Marcelle is primarily a detractor of the website, and doubts the adequacy of its information. Marcelle’s argument relies heavily upon the “mob rule” beliefs of Laniere, and his negative review of Wikipedia, after he struggled to have his status as a Film director removed from the website. I strongly opposed the cynical opinions of Lanier. I believe that a website, as large
E-learning has grown tremendously over the past several years as technology has been integrated into education and training. “E-learning” may be defined as instruction delivered electronically via the Internet, Intranets, or multimedia platforms such as CD-ROM or DVD. Since many users today have access to direct Internet connections, e-learning is often identified with web-based learning.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (ESV), Containing the Old and New Testaments. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.
The importance of the internet has been greatly debated, argued and explained since the day it was introduced to the world. One main factor Nick Bilton explains in his article, The Upside to Technology, is how yes, there is concern with safety measures and risk of social media spreading news, which many tend to be false however, internet still maintains a great ability to connect us all together. With the help of the internet, one does not feel lonely; the internet is full of entertainment and ways to connect with your loved ones with touch of a button. Bilton goes on to argue how our lives have dramatically changed due to smartphones and out daily uses of the internet; how it captures everything we search up. These factors play an important part in one’s choice of suing the internet and what they use it for.
With high speed internet available to potential students of all economic levels, schools are opting to implement online classes into their traditional teaching curriculum. As a result, our society is divided in two different ways of thinking on the education. Some believe the modern method is better than the traditional method of teaching. Personally, I believe both methods should balance one another instead of attempting to substitute one another; this way their purpose of educating will be far more successful.
For an entirely online education program like Western Kentucky University’s Computer Information Technology program, virtual communication methods provided by the school are essential. In this program, the primary option used is Blackboard, which is a learning management system (LMS) allowing for communication with both professors and students, and also pertinent class activities, such as assignment submission and quiz taking (“Online Orientation,” n.d).
E-learning has come to dominate the strategic thinking of employers over the past decade in several countries. Only in recent years in India, there has been focus on e-learning, this is due to the recent development in MNC, BPO and IT concerns. This is widely seen due to the connected economy, become intangible and fast growing among organizations. Due to emerging MNC’s, globalisation has become one of the most important criteria to increase flexibility of communications, and hence become vital among the organization. Despite the emphasis on e-learning and large investments made on training it is still not clear and ongoing success have not yet been recognized, due to the ongoing structural changes among managements. The problem in
Online distant learning programs help make the easy connection of students in a program connect to the more accessible home environment in a simple way. Students are now given the option of getting their education and making their own schedules, without going through a second person in an easy more efficient way. Consequently, to succeed in online courses and programs the student must have good time management, a computer or laptop, and internet connection. Also online distant learning programs are subjectively done through monologue, not our dialogue; having been previously filmed and then posted on the internet stating course information, not caring about the viewers, or if the
Online education has grown since it first came about, there are mixed views on whether it is truly beneficial. The reasons for the huge growth of online education is money even though online education targeted working adults that have little or no time to sit in a traditional classroom for millions of men and women serving in the armed forces online education has made earning a degree much more possible.