Learning platforms: 3, Ping Pong

No picture of this one, since it is the one we're using on the course. To me, this one seems the most intuitive, it's easy to add elements and administer results. I am not sure, but I think there is a decent statistics module, making the mechanics of being a course administrator easier. It seems most geared to web 2.0, with the integration of blogging and other fancy stuff. If I had to choose I think I would pick Ping Pong. On the other hand it is a bit unfair since this course is done by people specializing in these kinds of things. Maybe the impression would be different if the example course was a strict course in physics done by someone uninterested in social media.

One aspect I have still to come to terms with, is the role of TEXT within these platforms. The concept promotes a click-approach to learning, which is good because it stimulates interest. A reading-approach, if we may call it that, on the other hand, means you have to accept a linear structure imposed by textual course material. Depending on the learning objective this could be a good or a bad thing. As a historian, you are supposed to be good at digesting large amounts of text. I am not sure if this could be learned efficiently through a platform structure, which promotes accessing and reflecting on chunks of texts, but not longer coherent narratives.