A reflective evaluation and policy implications of
teaching an STS course via the Internet are presented.
The course explored the science, technology, and society
interactions from personal, social, cultural, historical,
political, and value perspectives. TheWorldWide
Web was used to present lecture materials and related
STS links. Most of the class discussions took place via
an e-mail chat room. The chat room discourses were
found insufficient to meaningfully discuss and debate
in-depth STS issues. Follow-up telephone conferences
were often needed. The interdisciplinary nature of STS,
complexity of STS interactions, and dynamics of STS
issues require more involved dialogue, analysis, and
problem solving than typical online correspondence
can provide requiring immersive-level technology
applications. More research and development efforts
and supportive policies are needed to make the delivery
of interdisciplinary courses via distance learning
a success. |