Jacques Derrida and the

Concept of Difference

Jenna A. Linskens

Northcentral University

Tirfonas (2003) stated, “ writing poses a danger to the cultural archive of knowledge that is the domain of the teacher as purveyor of truth. It erases the pedagogical intentions of opening up the semantic and experimental field of interpretation via a text” (p. 221).

Please discuss in your group:

How is it different to read a text versus hearing it when it relates to interpretation in your experiences?

Aranda (2007) stated, “it is through the understanding of netiquette and how it affects the dynamic of an online community that effective online communication will occur” (p. 11).

Students discuss in your group:

What netiquette rules apply to the various online communities you belong to including Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Edmodo, as well as when texting adults, peers, family or friends. How do you know what is appropriate and when?

In a study of native versus non-native speakers in an online learning environment compared to a face-to-face environment “non-native speakers were more passive in the face-to-face classroom leaving the native speakers to assume leadership characteristics. In the online environments, non-native speakers participated more equally in the online discussion” (Hlas, Schuh, & Alessi, 2008, Abstract).

Students discuss the results of this study with your group.Do you notice a difference in who speaks up in class, who raises their hands, who answers the teacher’s questions? Are there other factors to why students do / don’t participate in class?

It is believed by theorists that “speaking is supposed to be more transparent than writing, and therefore morally and ethically superior to writing as an educational tool because it articulates presence and explains itself through the power of the voice” (Trifonas, 2003, pp. 221-222).

Students please discuss in your group:How is speaking different from the writing and is there a sense of presence that can only be portrayed orally or can there be a written presence?

References:

Aranda, J.F. (2007). Netiquette and online communication. Journal ofInstruction Delivery Systems, 21(4), 11-14. Retrieved from

EBSCOhost.

Freire, P. (2010) Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: NY: Continuum.

Hlas, A., Schuh, K.L., & Alessi, S.M. (2008). Native and non-native speakers in online and face-to-face discussions: Leveling the playing field. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 36(4), 337-373. doi: 10.290/ET.36.4.b

Trifonas, P. (Ed). (2003). Pedagogies of difference: Rethinking education for social change. New York, NY: Routledge.