Robert H. Woods

Using Non-Subject-Matter-Specific Discussion Boards to Build Connectedness in Online Learning.

The authors employed multiple data-collection procedures to determine which of four personal (non-subject-matter-specific) discussion folders would be used most frequently by online learners in two online courses, and which would be rated more favorably and considered more effective than other folders. The folders were studied for the way in which they (1) helped build a positive faculty-student relationship, (2) helped build positive relationships with fellow students, (3) helped foster a greater sense of community online, and (4) contributed to a higher degree of satisfaction with the overall learning experience. Overall, the use of the four personal discussion folders contributed most to building a more positive faculty-student relationship, followed by a greater sense of community.

Immediacy, Cohesiveness, and the Online Classroom

THIS ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS instructional communication and distance education research with an emphasis on the social dynamics of the online learning experience and their impact on the learning experience. Literature related to the twin concepts of immediacy and group cohesiveness—central constructs related to building an effective classroom social dynamic—will be reviewed in an attempt to glean insights for the practical adaptation of these constructs from face-to-face to online learning environments. Such social dynamics are not presented as the pedagogical ends of the instructor’s role, but as the foundation, or means through which more intentional learning activities may be more effectively constructed in the online classroom.

Gender Differences in the Communication of Christian Conversion Narratives

Scholars have long sought to find the differences in the ways men and women communicate. Also, researchers have studied the field of religious conversion. Thisfirst-of-a-kind study has sought to find if gender differencesarise when men and women communicate the story of their religious conversion. Forty structured in-depth interviews with 20 male and 20 female undergraduate students at a small, private Christian liberal arts university in the Midwest were used to address the stated research question. Five male and five females were selected from each grade level. A non-probability sampling procedure was used to select subjects. The final sample consisted of two Hispanics, one Black, and 37 White non-Hispanic participants. The average age of each participant was 20. Although some authors have suggested that conversion stories of men and women would be similar due to a rhythmic narrative formula and common structural elements, this study has found that significant gender differences in the communication of such narratives do arise in certain specific areas. The majority of men used adventurous metaphors, while the majority of women used peaceful metaphors to describe their conversion experiences. It was also found that the majority of men focused on themselves as the control character while most women focused on someone else. And, men described themselves as clever whereas women described themselves as foolish in their narratives.

Sacred Symbols with a Secular Beat?: A Content Analysis of Religious and Sexual Imagery in Modern Rock, Hip Hop, Christian, and Country Music Videos

A content analysis of music videos for the 2008 top-rated songs in four musical genres was conducted in order to gauge change in the presence of religious and sexual symbols since the mid-1990s and to determine if sexual and religious images were prevalent in the increasingly popular hip hop genre. Religious images appeared in about one-third of videos across genres, and sexual images appeared in more than half the videos and in all of the hip hop videos. Hip hop and country videos had the highest co-occurrences of religious and sexual imagery, although there was co-occurrence in each genre. The significance and possible interpretations of the symbols and their co-occurrence are discussed.

Motivations for Reading the Left Behind Book Series: A Uses and Gratifications Analysis

ABSTRACT This uses and gratifications study investigates motivations for reading the Left Behind book series and their correlation to media use patterns; religious commitments; and the Conservative Protestant, Mainline, or Catholic Christian background of readers. The survey of 1,188 readers found that sanctified entertainment and “end times” teaching were the top reasons for reading the series. There was a significant positive relationship between religious media use and spiritual growth/development, content reaction, and accuracy. A significant positive relationship was found between religious commitment and content reaction, and religious commitment and biblical accuracy reading motivations. The study revealed different reading motivations among the various denominations, especially Catholics.