Global Communications in a Graduate Course on Online Education at the University of Tsukuba

This 30-page paper describes an intensive course on the theory and practice of online education. It is entitled "Online Education in Theory, Practice, and Applying the Internet to English Education" based out of Japan's National University of Tsukuba Graduate School of Education. This report provides illustrations of password-protected virtual learning environments to demonstrate technologies that are available for international communication. This course took place from February 16-20 2004.

A number of online education experts in the U.S., England, Malaysia and Brazil participated through the Internet as mentors, engaging the graduate students in audioconferences, chats and other forms of Web-based communication. The report describes synchronous and asynchronous (not real-time) Internet voice technologies by Wimba and HorizonLive as integrated into WebCT learning management systems in Australia and the United States.

According to the report, discussions of online pedagogy helped the students turn from "skepticism about distance education to enthusiastic appreciation of online education." Students described being most impressed by real-time communications with mentors abroad in their target languages. They also described appreciating ongoing access of the instructor's projection screen which allowed them to experience new technologies easily.

This report includes a number of colorful illustrations that can serve as tutorials for virtual learning
environments that are usually inaccessible because of password protection.