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Gardening in Cyberspace: A Metaphor to Enhance Online Teaching and Learning

Clayton College & State University

Darren Short

Perspectives

The metaphors we use can influence our behavior. This article proposes a new metaphor to help guide online instructors to more effective practices. The metaphor, gardening in cyberspace, is about creating an environment that fosters learning and personal growth. The practices of good gardening—positioning, conditioning soil, watering, and controlling weeds and pests—all serve as useful analogues to good online pedagogical practices, including addressing individual differences, motivating the student, providing feedback, and avoiding information overload. Examples of instructional design and course management techniques are included to illustrate what online instructors might do differently if they took the gardening perspective seriously. The authors also extend the metaphor to explore administration’s role as gardening store proprietors.

Key Words: metaphor • online learning • effective teaching practices • instructor attitudes

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