By Jennifer Millar
Junior, English and Professional Writing

Instructor Beth Gill conducts class from her home computer

The fall semester of 2005 offered a new version of COM114, an introductory communication class, that required all the elements of the traditional presentational speaking course – research, outlines, notecards, delivery – but no classroom.

The new online COM114 class is giving students the opportunity to integrate technology and communication. Students were encouraged to have a background in technology before starting this class, and some equipment, like a Webcam, was required so that students could participate fully in the class.

Melanie Morgan, assistant professor and the director of the course, said that the department eagerly joined in Purdue's exploration of distance learning and optional instructional delivery methods that new technology has made possible.

The curriculum in the new class is basically the same as the traditional COM114 class; the locations and mediums in which students learn and present are different.

Morgan calls the class a "hybrid course." Students meet online and in person.

Online, Instructor Beth Gill uses a program called Macromedia Breeze, a new communication program that allows users in various locations to interact in real time with each other. Students are given a secure URL to log on to for class. Once logged in, each person's video image (as long as they have their Webcams on) shows up in a small box in the top left hand corner of the screen. Under everyone's video images is a participant pod that lists everyone currently logged on, and below that is a chat pod, similar to an instant messenger. The chat pod gives you the option of "talking" privately to another person in the "classroom" or allowing the entire class to see the comments.

As Gill lectures, students are free to use the chat function to type in questions or comments about the course material she is presenting.

The middle of the computer screen displays Gill's Powerpoint slides. She can also share other files. For example, if she pulls up an example speech outline on her screen, it will also appear in the center of her students' screens.

Also, Gill can use the "poll pod" function of the program to measure student understanding, agreement, etc. "For example, if you want to know if everyone understands something, you could bring up the poll pod. It would appear in the top right corner of the screen. And they could click yes or no, whether they understand/don't understand, agree/disagree, etc.," Gill said.

"The poll pod then aggregates quick stats to show how everyone answered the questions. For example, 25 percent of the class may have answered that they do not understand the concept in question."

Gill uses a Webcam and microphone to converse with students

If a student has a question, they can also hold their microphone button down to talk - or they can also lock theirs in the "on" position if they're giving an impromptu speech or speaking for a longer period of time. Anyone who talks can be heard by all.

"Sometimes it's like pulling teeth to get them to use their microphone," said Gill. "They like to chat their questions and answers instead, but we have been able to use their microphones for impromptus and in the last few classes they also seem to be getting the hang of speaking into the mic rather than typing when they want to participate in the discussion or ask a question."

In addition to receiving instruction in a new format, students also are making their presentations in different arenas than regular sections. One speech is given to classmates and Gill via the student's Webcam.

For another speech, students must find a location in the community to make a persuasive appeal. For example, two students scheduled speeches at their residence halls: one about tattoo safety and one about cell phone safety. Another made a presentation at the Community and Family Resource Center in Lafayette about the importance of staying drug free. And one student, a professional paintball player, combined his hobby and expertise in a presentation to the Indiana Captain's Council, a paintball organization, about paintball safety.

"(The speech) is a nice way for Purdue to reach out to the community," said Morgan.

The students are required to videotape their community presentations and upload them for Gill to see.

Gill said the course gives the students a realistic idea of public speaking. In today's global business climate, many students will need to use technology to make presentations to partners or clients across the country or even across the world, Gill said.

"(Students) get use to technology in the business world. (The class) is an innovative way of using technology in the classroom," she said.

It also gives more people who might not be able to attend classes in West Lafayette the opportunity to benefit from Purdue courses, Gill said.

Gill said some students may assume that online translates into "easier." "That is definitely not the case," she said.

In addition to their speeches, the class must write several papers that are different than those required in the traditional COM114 classes. Among those is a paper analyzing their experiences of working online in a group and the lessons they learned about computer mediated communication in groups.

Gill said one drawback of the online course is she misses the daily, face-to-face interpersonal contact a teacher has with students in an actual classroom. "I send out weekly e-mails, I try to be personable in them, but it is not the same," she said.

While Gill holds "virtual" office hours, she also emphasizes to students that they can come see her in person.