Reducing student aggression, the dark side of distance ed.

The first step in solving a problem is to identify it. Distance education instructors are now becoming aware of occasional aggression as an unintended consequence of on-line learning, according to Michael Perkins, a social work instructor, and Graham Higgs, psychology professor, both at Columbia College MO. They presented at the 18th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Extension in August in Madison WI.

Reactions to teaching and learning on-line have long been positive at Columbia. Focus groups showed that students liked the flexibility and convenience of distance education. Both students and instructors liked the asynchronous discussion feature. Sometimes on-line discussions were freer and better than classroom discussions, where the physical presence of the instructor and other students may have inhibited some students.

Yet one or two instructors hinted at occasional instances of improper, hostile or aggressive student on-line participation. For example, a student unhappy with a grade might lash out at the instructor. "It is safer for students to be negative toward you on-line because there is not that personal relationship," an instructor reported in a focus group. Aggression also occurred between students.

A 2001 study at the State University of New York also hinted at the problem, reporting that students in on-line courses are sometimes more aggressive and question authority in ways not seen in regular classroom teaching.

Shouts, insults, challenges to authority

To explore the issue, Perkins and Higgs surveyed 88 on-line instructors at Columbia in April; 25 responded. To avoid imposing an arbitrary definition and to encourage a broad response, the study did not define aggression.

Almost three fourths (73%) of respondents reported experiencing student aggression. Examples were: students shouting by using ALL CAPS in their messages, insulting the abilities of the instructor, trying to control conference discussions, and flooding the instructor with e-mails. One instructor reported receiving a virus attached to an e-mail, possibly connected to a dispute over course assignments. Instructors were disconcerted, shocked and uncertain how to respond to aggression.