Sonia Livingstone addresses that the internet may have "a radically new information and communication environment" when considering how people read from web pages.
I think that for many people, reading online is still a strange and uncomfortable thing to do. Likewise, writing and discussing subjects online can be daunting. Writing this blog, or a comment in a forum, I am unaware of who may come across my views and read them.
Hyperlinking makes reading online a completely different experience of reading for me. I find it hard to concentrate on a long piece of script online as it is, but having access to even more information can sometimes be overwhelming, allowing too many options!! I often print off a piece of online reading making it easier for me to digest and understand.
When it comes to writing online, be it in blogs or forums, at first I found it strange to be putting forward my views on topics in a more casual way than writing an essay. However, at the same time, the writing of these blogs are more formal than the style of writing I tend to use on a daily bases in instant messenger situations. This sometimes makes it hard to find the correct balance of appropriate writing style and expression. Talking in seminar groups, or conversations comes naturally, and I often find myself expressing views without even considering what I'm saying, however in a blog or forum situation I find myself putting a lot more thought into my discussion points. This is most probably a positive thing, as I find myself becoming more involved in the discussion.
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I am the same hannah, i often have to print off things on the internet to read and understand them properly. I find it very hard to concentrate online for some reason and hate not being a able to scribble and make notes on the actual page. Like you have said conversation comes for naturally face to face in seminars, however, does it for everyone? Maybe the blogging and online interaction is easier for other students who find it too daunting to comment out loud and prefer to have the chance to write their views without people questioning there and then. There is just so much to think about isn't there? I never thought something as simple as conversation could hold so much to think and talk about.
ReplyDeleteYour right about considering other students who may not have the confidence to speak up in seminars, and I agree. However, I think it is also easier to get lost and become unnoticed in the internet world, in a "meatspace" seminar we are able to see people and can ask direct questions to the quieter people in the group. Online, people who do not understand, or are embarrassed to contribute their views may find themselves being left out and forgotten (obviously not intentionally!).
ReplyDeleteI think you have to have confidence with internet technology to use these forums and blogs. I'm still very unsure, and I think I have an ok knowledge of the internet, for those who do not otherwise use forums, chat rooms or blogs this must be VERY daunting!