Re-engineering participation through on-line learning environments: An examination of communication apprehension, choice, and performance

Learning environments designed with web, computer-mediated communication, or other on-line technologies promise to enhance the individual's learning experience through additional participation opportunities available with these technologies. However, the enhanced learning experience is not guaranteed, as each learner's predisposition to the communication venue will influence how readily the learner engages in the learning experience. This paper describes our early experience in designing on-line participation opportunities that take into account an individual learner's predisposition toward communication activities. Results indicate that an individual's communication apprehensiveness can have a deleterious effect upon one's learning experience. Implications for the deployment of on-line tools within higher education scenarios are discussed.