Computer Mediated Discourse

Last week, on January 14, we hosted Professor Irit Kupferberg in a webinar that dealt with:

Self-construction in computer-mediated discourse: Theoretical and methodological perspectives

This was primarily in honor of chapter in a new book, edited by Thomas Hansson -

Handbook of Research on Digital Information Technologies: Innovations, Methods, and Ethical Issues

Professor Kupferberg has been involved in discourse analysis for many years, and the blossoming of internet based discussion groups has offered a wonderful opportunity to investigate written discourse detached from the signs and symbols that we're accustomed to in face-to-face interaction. She introduced us to her Four World Model that positions discourse in relation to the past, the present and the future, and to the interaction taking place.

We viewed numerous examples in which new teachers wrestled with various problems. Professor Kupferberg's model helped us glimpse into the world of these teachers, and how they saw their place in it.

For further study, Professor Kupferberg provided us with an extensive bibliography of materials related to self-construction in computer-mediated discourse.