Public Relations in Cyberspace

Toni Whelan

Slm521SPO3

02/26/03

article1

A teacher, who is a professor at a college, where she teaches public relations, wrote the article I reviewed. She started teaching in a regular classroom but the time frame of 8am did not suit the juniors and seniors, in other words they did not show up. The class was created in a MOO environment. This stands for multi-user dimension object oriented environment. Included with the MOO she required e-mail and IM. The students had to log onto the computer and find the classroom. This sounds easy but the article infers this can be the first difficult task for the class.

Using MOO was complicated. The teacher and students had to dial out to the Internet find a place called "Diversity University" and attempt to enter the campus and then the building and then the right classroom. The class spent a lot of time trying this application. After some success the professor was suggested by a computer literate professor to use IRC which stands for Internet Relay Channel. This is a specific Internet site used on the campus for such cyberspace classes. This site was easily accessible and this is where the students ended up. The classes started in a computer lab with everyone working on the same chores. After three lessons together the students went off on their own communicating through cyberspace.

The problems I can relate to is in cyberspace there is a lack of personal connection you get when you are face to face with other students. The article states the students had a difficult time with this issue. Other problems were the students did not have computers at home or modems for their computers. They agreed to meet once a week, in a three days a week class. The joining of personalities is pleasant, and I personally can relate to wanting to have human contact. The other two days were instruction and communication on the Internet. I have enjoyed so far this Internet course and the ease of being at home, as I am right now in my PJ’s. I also like not having to be somewhere at a specific time. I am spending tons of time in front of my computer, which is not my favorite sport.

Resource

Shoemake, Barbara, Cyberspace Class: Rewards and Punishments, ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading, English, and Communication, Indians University, 2805 E. 10^th Street Suite 150, Bloomington, In 47408-2698, ED400574, tp//ericir.syr.edu//plweb.cgi/fastweb?getdoc