Power and Apprehension in the Virtual and Mediated Classroom

• In Event: Reconceptualizing Instructional Communication Constructs in Technological Environments

Abstract

Traditional face-to-face classrooms are characterized by mutual communicative influence as part of the teacher-student interaction. Technology, ranging from mere teacher-student email exchange to virtual synchronous computer mediated environments adds, exponentially, a significant facet to the symbolic exchange of meaning and specifically to mutual influence exchanges between teachers and students. Instructional technology potentially affects the nature of power use, has a vehicular impact on influence messages, and persuades communicative outcomes. Communication apprehension can be affected by instructional technology in similar ways.

Author

• David Roach, Texas Tech Univ