The role of Internet and Online – discussion in the process of learning Essay

Integrative consensus allows everyone to express his or points of view and ideas from all lead to consensus which is a synthesis of everyones thoughts. Such synthesis is created on the basis of all group members viewpoints in relation with the academic requirements and their learning objectives. The last level Consensus through conflict seems to indicate that students do not always meet their agreement easily. Sometimes conflicts may arise and in this case everyone in the group should be open to criticism. It becomes difficult to manage when each of the members considers his or her opinion to be right. Such situation puts some team members in uncomfortable working situation. However, consensus which is got through conflict is not always negatively considered since some researchers assume that such situation may contribute cognitively in the collaborative learning (Rosen & Salomon, 2007). For these authors, difficulties to reach agreement are part of learning since it contributes to the knowledge construction.
In a real world, online activities have a number of advantages that we have to recall some. Online activities having such an important role in learning, is an unprecedentedly recommended tool to be integrated in the curriculum. As an illustration, with online discussion, students become actively involved to participate and give feedback about their interesting subjects, and this is part of their own building capacities. It is also an opportunity for instructors to provide the needed accurate information that students seek for, for the success of their works. It is worthy also noting that during such sessions, recorded talks or online presentations/chats with persons with expertise in the domains are valuable inputs for students. Additionally, while some uninformed persons would think that the new approach make students rather passive, Neo (2007) precises that learners become active because of the multisensory use of sound, image and animation. Huang (2005) on his side adds that such branch of educational media provide visual aids, interactivity, and animation for the benefit of the students. Furthermore, as all know, nowadays technological innovations are part of everyones life and students life in particular. Therefore we can join Risner (2011) and approve that educational media moves beyond traditional passive form to interactivity, which motivates and of course challenges learners as well.
3. 6. Cognitive learning
In another angle, Mayer (2002) uses a theorybased assumption of a channel which consists of limited capacity and active processing to demonstrate how pictures and words enhance individual learning. Commenting on that channel assumption, Risner (2011) precises that the human acquires knowledge from visual pictures and audiovisual materials.
Active processing suggests that meaningful learning happens when learners mentally select and organise pertinent words and images and finally connect them with the students existing knowledge (Risner, ibid). It is understood that students who use internet with video and audio materials are much more competent than those with one of them. For further understanding of such a multimedia design, Mayer (2002) suggests the following eight principles multimedia, contiguity, coherence, modality, redundancy, personalisation, interactivity and signalling principle.