[UgaBYTES] Using email as a teaching tool

[mfrancis at ugabytes.org]

Email is perhaps the biggest growth area of the Internet usage today.
Across the globe, it is increasingly being used for everyday
communication. If used effectively, it can be a wonderful tool for
learning because it allows usage with practically anyone, anywhere.

By use of email to keep in touch by students and teachers, there would
most probably be a shift in pedagogical methods. It would provides
academics with an opportunity to make their teaching better, to allow them
to teach in different ways and to reach more students. Simply put, it
allows for the ‘maximisation’ of learning.

Debatably, the use of email communication through the Internet may soon
impinge on all forms of learning in schools, colleges and even
universities, not only shifting teaching opportunities because of its new
perspectives on communication and dissemination of information, but also
opening up exciting new ways for teachers and students to keep in touch.

Recent research now indicates that there are limitless pedagogical
benefits of using email in aiding learning. It can be used for feedback in
the classroom, which is lending the medium a new level of credence as an
educational tool.

Feedback in classroom situation essentially means a mechanism where the
teacher and student are able to communicate with an aim of establishing
whether there is change of behavior in achieving desired outcomes and to
meet established criteria that can be measured on such instruments as
standardized exams or other performance measures.

Having a solid email-based environment can greatly enhance a situation
where teachers and students can have a new teaching - learning experience.
Through the integration of email communication to the face-to-face
classroom learning, reinforcement can occur.

In East Africa for instance, the number of people turning into the use of
email is growing steadily. With the various initiatives in the Information
Communication and Technology (ICT) sector across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania,
Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi the number of those using the Internet and
consequently the email is expected to rise astronomically in the next few
years. This is bound to expand the usage of email as an important
educational tool.

Using email as a way of learning has been known to motivate learners,
encourages authentic communication, and creates new learning experiences.
It can lead to deeper, more active, and more engaged learning.

Available studies show that email has been recognised as having enormous
pedagogical functions. For example, in one investigation of the
effectiveness of email as a communication and instructional aid between
instructors and students, it was established that there was empirical
evidence supporting the usefulness of e-mail as a promising aid to promote
student cognitive growth pertaining to computer knowledge and skills

In another qualitative case study of undergraduate students in an online
course, it was observed that, email allows for improved communication and
gives students the opportunity to ask more questions to their instructor.
The researcher observed that the use of email could create a sense of
anonymity that potentially allows for greater participation by students.

But what makes email a feasible tool in learning - teaching process? To
start with, many schools are now systematically embracing technology with
most of the schools in urban centres having at least a computer or a
number of them. Notably, even some nondescript day schools in some remote
parts of these countries have computers. Some of these schools are not
even fed by the national electricity grid. This scenario is opening ground
for student to learn and use computers in communication.

There is also the proliferation of cyber cafes and consequently the
availability of Internet facilities to most regions within Eastern Africa.
This has enabled many people to have access to the internet and therefore
ability to use emails.

In recent times, the cost of sending emails has plummeted especially due
to increased competition. This has enabled more and more people use and
access the Internet. It is not lost to us that a few years ago, access to
Internet was a problem and when available, the cost was quite prohibitive.

Comparatively, email is cheap and convenient. Studies have shown that
users can save large amounts of money using it, in lieu of long-distance
phone calls and postal deliveries. It also allows more and more formats to
be sent via email; anything from a word processor document, spreadsheet or
CAD files to pictures and software.

Email is a fabulous testing medium. As a result of the speed, a teacher
can get virtually instant feedback from students any time anywhere. In
circumstances where action is needed, it can be executed immediately.

It can also serve in fostering relationships between students and
teachers. In fact, this could be one of the most popular usages of email
in an educational setup as it helps to deepen the relationships they
currently have, and to establish new ones, which can enhance learning.

The flexibility of email lends itself to so many uses. Emails can be
personalized and when combined with students’ database containing
information about them, it can be targeted to specific students within the
database, who could be experiencing some problems.

However, email use in learning - teaching environment is not without some
challenges. It can become time consuming and yet we know time is of
essence especially to students. Students may find themselves receiving
more and more emails than they can digest, with some unsolicited and with
non-educational content.

Using email in the classroom also requires a certain level of technical
expertise and considerable technical support. Training and access are also
factors. Both instructors and students need to be oriented to the email
system and its many features. The school must have in place an
infrastructure with access to all essential hardware and software. Email
communication can at times be time consuming and often means extra work
for teachers.

Again, students may be uncomfortable interacting with people they do not
know and have never met. They may suffer discomfort in the delay of
immediate feedback and communication and perceived separation with the
instructor.

It is often argued that the best teaching – learning process is
face-to-face interaction between the teacher and students, which
introduces a human touch in the communication.

However, email communication comes in between these. It lacks vocal
inflection, gestures, and a shared environment, which can enhance
learning.

However, for email communication to be used successfully in teaching and
learning process, all course participants must be able to use it
successfully and confidently. They also must look for messages regularly.
Further, students must have access to network facilities to connect to the
mail, know how to use the system for receiving, sending and storing
messages.

For better or worse, email is growing as a powerful educational and
communication force. With this integration comes the opportunity for a
complete re-evaluation of the delivery of education. Educators must make
the commitment to merge technology into the curriculum. Without a firm
commitment and a concerted effort, the potential of this technology will
not be realized.