Using the Internet for professional development

Abstract

This paper reports on a short course that used the Internet in the context of a professional peer group learning environment. The course made use of the WebCT conferencing system. This system allows messages to be kept in a central location. As it is asynchronous, a receiver can read a message and respond to it at a time convenient to them. Extracts from different forums are presented that provide examples of the types of communication that took place and participants perceived advantages and disadvantages of online communication.