Unstable Conditions: The Dynamics of Dissent in Electronic Discourse Communities

A significant question in the field of computer-mediated pedagogy is to what extent should networked computers be used in a face-to-face learning context. After all, if the students are physically present in the classroom, why put a computer between them? This article analyzes student work and perception of an in-class writing and discussion assignment in which students posted answers to discussion questions in classroom discussion forum using networked computers in a writing classroom lab and then reacted to other student posts in synchronous chats. Two key findings are discussed: 1) the tendency for students to hide behind apparent anonymity and to use harsh language and disparaging tones when interacting with peers--even when they are sitting at a computer in the same room; 2) the tendency for quiet or shy students to contribute more dynamically to the synchronous online discussion.