case study of student interaction on a discussion forum during a 1-year virtual international project

1. DISCUSSION FORUM

2. WHY HAVE ONE? “ It’s so nice when we write so often. Not like once in a week.” ” What I want from this project:Something to getting closer, friendship. i think, that's best in our project .” ” I like the fact we get to know other people from many different countries...”

4. 2003-2004 FORUM

5. NUMBER OF MESSAGES

7. MESSAGES PER MONTH January 16 – June 17, 2004

8. FEBRUARY MESSAGES

10. LEARNING VALUE?

12. INSIGHTS GAINED? “ It’s very interesting to know how different are the countries. But in things like hobbyes, they are actually quite same.” “ amuses me when you said that -0 degrees was warm =P. Here in Singapore its like 34 degrees everyday =(“ “ Yes Lasse Viren is a very famous olympia star. He still lives. I’m happily surprised that someone knows about Finland that much. It’s a big thing! THANX!”

13. FRIENDSHIPS? “ --- somehow it always gives me the impression that Finland is a very peaceful and romantic place… Hehe.. Would love to visit there someday… ^^” ” Hey Ada,i must say,as i read your mails,it really strikes me that you are a very funny and care free person with a big SPUNK =D and Sanna on the other hand is a more serious kind of person is that right?..=D.”

14. PRIVATE EMAILS “ How are you? I'm so sorry to be late for replying to you. I love chips and chocopie.chocolate is good taste. Easter? I may have listened to it. Is it chodolate? I eat Easter,too.Soon,send me photo of Easter.” ” How about if we started to write on each others e- mails because the peole are vanishing from here? What do you think?”

15. CONCERNS

16. “ My co-curricular activity is NCC (Air). … is all about learning. Similar to the ARMY, it prepares us for the ARMY (National Service) too.” “ I think it’s maybe a little strange to read about army training in peace forum, but I’d like to hear more about. And could you tell about your country’s army system?” NO REPLY!

17. “ NETIQUETTE” for the Peace Project 1. The discussion forum is for use ONLY by project participants. 2. Always use acceptable (polite?) language. 3. Always reply to all messages that you receive without delay. Waiting for ages at the other end is usually very disappointing! 4. Remember to be active in keeping the discussion going instead of just answering questions from others. Keep “throwing the ball back” to them with some new ideas. 5. Show an interest in other cultures, for example ask questions, find out, comment! Sometimes you may come across ideas that seem odd - even objectionable - to you. However, explore them politely; never ridicule or look down on other students’ opinions. People always act according to their cultural background. These backgrounds are all different, yet all equally valuable. No culture can be superior to others! 6. If you ever receive unpleasant or offensive messages from anyone in the project, inform your teacher straight away. Also tell your teacher about any other problems, e.g. not receiving any replies to your messages. 7. Overall, though, you should enjoy the multicultural discussion forum, and work towards building a more peaceful world through knowledge and understanding. SO KEEP THOSE EMAILS GOING BACK AND FORTH!

18. “ NETIQUETTE” for the Peace Project 1. The discussion forum is for use ONLY by project participants. 2. Always use acceptable (polite?) language. 3. Always reply to all messages that you receive without delay. Waiting for ages at the other end is usually very disappointing! 4. Remember to be active in keeping the discussion going instead of just answering questions from others. Keep “throwing the ball back” to them with some new ideas. 5. Show an interest in other cultures, for example ask questions, find out, comment! Sometimes you may come across ideas that seem odd - even objectionable - to you. However, explore them politely; never ridicule or look down on other students’ opinions. People always act according to their cultural background. These backgrounds are all different, yet all equally valuable. No culture can be superior to others! 6. If you ever receive unpleasant or offensive messages from anyone in the project, inform your teacher straight away. Also tell your teacher about any other problems, e.g. not receiving any replies to your messages. 7. Overall, though, you should enjoy the multicultural discussion forum, and work towards building a more peaceful world through knowledge and understanding. SO KEEP THOSE EMAILS GOING BACK AND FORTH!

20. 234 QUESTIONS only 110 answered!

21. Are you boy or girl??? Could you please explain to me what kinds of books/magazines are Anime and Manga? What kind of songs do you play? Is the food mainly sea food? just a q but xactli wat is the NPCC? What is this Inyasha? I think I’ve never heard of it… How do you say hello in your mother tongue? Do u think love or career come first??

22. 71. Hi! - Jenni (Finland) , Tue, Jan 27 2004 at 4:30 pm [36 hits] Re: Hi! - Yuki(Japan) , Tue, Jan 27 2004 at 4:36 pm [29 hits] Re: Re: Hi! - Jenni(Finland) , Tue, Jan 27 2004 at 5:32 pm [24 hits] Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Yuki(Japan) , Wed, Jan 28 2004 at 1:52 pm [34 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Jenni(Finland) , Wed, Jan 28 2004 at 3:50 pm [28 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Yuki(Japan) , Thu, Jan 29 2004 at 4:27 pm [29 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Jenni(finland) , Fri, Jan 30 2004 at 1:32 am [36 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Yuki(Japan) , Wed, Feb 4 2004 at 5:10 pm [24 hits] Hi!!! again... and thank you - Juda, Nadia, Rashid, Raka, Thu, Feb 26 2004 at 9:52 am [5 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Yuki(Japan) , Sun, Feb 8 2004 at 9:47 pm [17 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Jenni (finland) , Thu, Mar 4 2004 at 11:00 pm [7 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Yuki(Japan) , Tue, Mar 9 2004 at 6:52 pm [4 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Yuki(Japan) , Tue, Mar 9 2004 at 6:36 pm [3 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Wei Tong(Singapore) , Thu, Feb 5 2004 at 8:50 pm [24 hits] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hi! - Ada (Finland) , Thu, Jan 29 2004 at 7:08 pm [33 hits

23. “ HI! iam jonathan lin from singapore.I like reading books and playing computer games.how is the school system over there?” “ Hi! I'm Glenn from Singapore! What is school like in your country? What are the schooling hours like there? I'm more like an outdoor fellow and I play table-tennis as a co-curricular activity. Hope to hear from you all soon!”

24. “ Oh dear, seems like my space on the forum is the biggest....” “ Hope, this isn't a private conversation between you too ;) I saw The Return of the King also and it was great, but …”

25. Hi! i am yu hao from singapore...I turn 14 this year and i'm friendly and loves to make friends. I love to play basketball and computer games...although i haven't played basketball for a long long time...i still love it!I take up canoeing as my co-curricular activity in school...Singapore has quite a few tourist attraction like sentosa,our very own singapore discovery centre and science centre and the Night safari which is a night zoo...Are there any tourism attraction in your country? i am quite clueless of what tourism attraction u have in finland although i know japan has Mt.Fuji and Malaysia has the patronas towers..correct me if i spelt the patronas tower wrongly NO REPLY!

26. LANGUAGE “ hmmm…J-pop/rock…heehee. Anime music is holy *__* lol. *dork* hehe. Err…I like…pop. R&B and…soft rock/metal…no really. My ears burst if I listen to Metallica lol.” “ hahaha…omg!!! love RAVE man..so farniiii…but i think i love ayashi no ceres the best and gensomaden sayuki…it rocks!!!! wats manga btw???” “ heyz i now this is kinda late n reli dumb to ask but err does neone now how to read the hits u get n stuff n other ppls too..i cant evn read other ppl’s hits..how do u now wat other ppl r saying..i noe im reli bad with comps..hehe…tnx”

27. HUMOUR? “ *Hits head on the wall by accident* Ehh?? Hi!!!! *Scratches head* I like to read Anime and Manga a lot. I like listening to Music, different kinds from Pop to Rap and even Background music from different games. *Anime Sweat Drop* I also read loads of different Manga like Falem of Recca and RAVE. I particularly like Ken Akamatsu’s books for example Love hina and the Recent book, Magister Negi Magi… *Hits Head on wall again* OWW!!!! *Touches head* BLOOD!!!!! *Faints8 -_-; ”

28. “ You can say that is lazy, I know.. *laughing* ”

29. AGE GAP 13-18 “ hey… whats up? Where you live???? kiss and hug” “ hey… i just like to cum online and chat wif friends… and listenin to music…”

30. ” You guys are EIGHTEEN? We are only 14 here in singapore =)” “ But our conversation has worked well, don’t you think… I wouldn’t have guessed that you’re so young ;)”

31. SUGGESTION FOR PHASE 2

32. Salmon Gilly: E-tivities: The Key to Active Online learning (2002, RoutledgeFalmer)

34. MESSAGES PER MONTH January 16 – June 17, 2004

36. SOME INITIAL GUIDANCE ” Hi everyone” “ Hello to you too! Don’t write too much :) You should tell something about yourself?”

37. “ Hello… anyone will to bee friend with mee??? write bak” “ Haha… Nice try… Mind introducing yourself a bit..?^^ “

38. WHAT WORKS? “ Nice to hear that i’m not the only one with no free-time.” “ What food do we like to eat? … well ofcourse those that Mathias already said.. pizzas and hamburgers. Also little more healthy food like chicken, fish, potatos…” “ Good for you Samuel, you got what you wanted =)”

39. “ Can you tell me about the typical lifestyle in Finland. Singaporeans enjoy eating, watching movies and shopping. --- Are westerners like you finlanders the direct opposite?” “ Hi Andy! We are not opposite at all! We do the same things as you do: shopping, go to movies etc.”