Electronic Communication Modalities

Threaded Discussion

There are many advantages of using threaded discussions in online classes.  Threaded discussions allow students to respond and reply to multiple posts.  Not only do students respond once, but they are able to repeatedly respond to the same post and participate in lengthy peer conversations throughout the course.  This method of virtual posting information and thoughts helps to provide the students with an engaging and interactive "classroom experience" even though they aren't literally with their peers for face-to-face interaction.  Although this method of electronic communication has many advantages, one possible disadvantage would be that students can respond on their own timetable.  As such, there is a possiblity that students would lose interest in a particular conversation if they wait too long to recieve a response from their peers.

E-mail Discussion

Email is convenient, easily accessible, quick, and a simple source of electronic communication that has countless advantages.  Students can instantaneously recieve messages from one another.  Using email allows for easy storage and filing of important messages and conversations.  It's significantly easier to lose paper copies of a correspondance rather than an electronic one!  Email also allows for group chats as you can include more than one individual to send your message to.  A few disadvantage of email could include the fact that some individuals recieve so many email messages per day that your message to them could possibly be overlooked and ignored.  Additionally, due to the fact that you are unable to express yourself with non-verbal cues, email messages could unintentionally be misunderstood, misinterpreted, and offensive to the recipient.

Live Chat Discussion

Live chat allows for extremely efficeint and real-time peer or student/teacher electronic communication!  Live chat is similar to text messaging, in that the messages are sent instantly and, as long as both parties are available, a converation can be had in real-time.  One disatvantage, perhaps, could be that live chats aren't stored like email messages are.  Once a live chat ends, the shared information dissapears as well.  To have a live chat with someone, both need to be online at the same time prepared to have a conversation.  If not, it won't work.  For these reasons, I feel as if other forms of electronic communiation, such as email and threaded discussions are far better options.

Conclusion

After briefly reviewing these three modes of electronic communiation, I would have to conclude that both threaded discussions and email messages are optimal forms of communication.  They allow for eficient communication and potentially lengthy conversations among peers whereas it would be more difficult to achieve such results with using a live chat modality.  Limitations of all forms of electronic communication is that they could potentially lack personal touch and emotion.  As such, the messages could be misinterpreted and offensive as a result.  Face-to-face interaction is optimal, however, in today's fast-paced world, many people are highly dependent on electronic communication to achieve greater success in less time.  Electronic communication is extemely beneficial to socisty and it works!