Classroom Forums

A recent class discussion highlights some disparity in the University of Phoenix student body in terms of software and intended use. The discussion was around some folks continuing to use Outlook Express because of early problems with the new web-based class platform. Many moons ago doctoral students switched to the web-based Online Learning System.

Outlook Express went away because it is wildly unsafe and unreliable. I loved it, loved it, loved it. I was sad to see it go and since then become a big fan of the web-based classroom. Of particular issue in this discussion is the ability for users of OE to copy eMails of students, etc. The issue is that a student is copying students on posts and the replies are not coming into the web-based forums. Thus creating the chance that important thoughts, comments, and discussions get misplaced and are not tracked in the classroom. Why is this important?

Well, the first is that students can remain focused without having to jumping around between the classroom and eMail systems. Secondly, if eMail conversations include important information it can be lost readily. Thirdly, if you need to track down a conversation item, digging through eMail is much tougher than using the forum.

I had no idea the discussion would become as important to the holdouts using Outlook Express. Change is tough for people, I understand. My advice to any University of Phoenix student is to use the web-based OLS (which rocks now) and avoid non-classroom discussions for your own sake. Your life will be easier and more successful at UOP, I promise.

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