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DSU dean supports online conferences

            Dakota State University Dean of the college of Liberal Arts, Eric Johnson, is taking steps to make attending conferences more convenient for all involved. Keeping pace with Dakota State University’s technology status, Johnson has taken part in several online conferences and is slated to present two papers in two upcoming online conferences.

            “You get all the benefits without all the headaches,” said Johnson. “I’m in favor of online education. If you want to have a conference on the issue, why not have an online conference for online education. It’s an interesting way to have a conference.”

            Online conferences can prove to be less hassle and more rewarding than a physical conference at a specified site. Those attending a physical two-day or more conference have to make certain travel plans, pack their luggage, arrange for a place to sleep and attend the conference, which is usually regional. With an online conference those steps are eliminated. All that is needed to attend an online conference is an Internet ready computer and the right software.

“I’ve never had my luggage lost at an online conference,” said Johnson. “It’s neat to see people from all over the world. An online conference is more international.”

Online conferences are also cheaper for the attendee. “There are no extra costs,” said Johnson.

An online conference utilizes a MOO, which gives every participant the opportunity to chat in a chat session. In other words, helps those involved communicate. A moderator is in charge of the MOO and will decide how to run the conference.

Johnson will be presenting two separate papers at different two online conferences in the near future. Johnson’s paper, “Writing as Problem Solving in Online Courses” was accepted by the refereed Computers and Literature Conference for presentation on Monday, March 26.

The paper focuses on the ability of students to solve their own problems by writing them out. Johnson says those problems fall into three categories:

1.      Students simply forget to do something

2.      Students use faulty logic

3.      Students do not have sufficient knowledge to complete the exercises

The paper explores the resources available to students through writing out their problems. “It is a ray of sunshine in the teaching of online courses,” writes Johnson.

“Essential Release Time and Assistance for Online Teaching” is the second paper Johnson will present, this time at a refereed conference in Hawaii on April 17-19. Although attending a conference in Hawaii seems like the perfect opportunity to forget about online conferences, Johnson will attend the conference via his office in Beadle Hall.

In this paper, Johnson explains that teaching online requires additional preparation time and teachers should be given release time in order to be beneficial teachers to their students.

“There are methods of giving faculty assistance for teaching online, but even with the best assistance, faculty will still require release time,” writes Johnson. “Any school that attempts to teach courses via Internet should have good support personnel.”

Johnson has presented papers at more than 50 conferences and has published more than 50 refereed articles and volumes.