As with any program, a teacher must be prepared to think about how CONNECT can help achieve particular pedagogical goals and not be controlled by the structural restraints. CONNECT was created primarily for composition classes, where collaborative feedback on papers is particularly encouraged, and it probably works easiest in that environment. But it can be adapted to any teaching style, from the most traditional to the most open, and for other kinds of classes. I use it in literature classes and it has been adopted for graduate business programs, for example. Charles Hannon has a Web article describing how he uses CONNECT in his classes.

Teacher Control
The teacher fits the program to his or her own pedagogical goals and the needs of the class by setting up the assignments, controlling the student access to papers, either in the class as a whole or in groups, allowing anonymity, commenting as the students do, deactivating assignments, collecting the comments in one discussion file, creating icons/comments for grading, sending messages to the whole class, halting student messaging, even assuming a student identity. The class, then, can be structured as tightly or as open as the teacher desires. However, if a teacher only wants an electronic way to collect and grade papers, this program may be overkill. It works well in the student-centered, collaborative environment that I prefer and I tend to leave the options open unless giving a test. Indeed, my major adaptation involves finding ways to post the full discussion and small group discussions to the whole class. Many instructors find that their classes become more interactive and collaborative with CONNECT, more than they had expected.

Flexibility
CONNECT can be adapted to almost any kind of writing assignment, from quick informal reading responses to extended research papers. Students may include images as well as connections to Web sites (not with the DOS program, of course). Assignments that demand collaborative or tutorial work beyond the level of comments on papers can be a little tricky, but by combining different features, such as messaging and assignments, or by copying and pasting, almost any pedagogical procedure for working with writing can be negotiated. The CONNECT Instructor's Manual offers good suggestions, and the teacher can always turn to the CONNECT list for further ideas on how to tweak the system successfully.

And the students say...
I have found most students to be quite enthusiastic about the program, although it is difficult to separate their response to the tool from their response to a more student-centered class environment. The learning curve is not very steep and most students realize the value of being comfortable writing on the computer. The major drawback for some--but not for me--is that they find themselves writing much more than in other classes, and that does require not only time, but some hard thinking. Here are some of their review comments:

"Connect for me was very difficult at first but I think that was only because it was so much of a transition from traditional learning. But after learning how to connect I was able to get into the flow and the program became much less of a stress factor. The best thing about Connect was having the opportunity to read and respond to other students' work. It reinforced ideas to a great extent. I also think that communicating that way allowed a greater sense of honesty because most of us had no idea whom we were talking to. In a college atmosphere I have found it very difficult to communicate with the instructor even about simple issues; Connect also made this easier. You could connect and communicate with your professor on a one-to-one basis; all your questions were answered at the click of a button. Overall, it was a very good experience." --Shaleshia Miller

"Connect proves software can link the bold with the faint-of-heart in computers. Its applications make it easy for students to talk to each other, facilitating the idea forum which for so long the fan-shaped classroom missed." --Will Beebe

"As a future teacher, I hope I will have access to wonderful programs like Connect. To be able to communicate and openly discuss texts via the computer leads to many opportunities. First it allows the introvert a chance to speak without feeling intimated or rushed to form a thought. Second, it allows each class member a chance to reflect and respond to other members of the class." --Jennifer Mitchell.

"I actually enjoyed working on Connect. When I first heard that this was going to be a computer assisted class, I became a little worried. However, during my advising meeting, the teacher showed me how, with very little difficulty, I could operate the program. I started using the program and was very pleased. The main reason I like Connect is I can share comments with the rest of the class. I can read other people’s papers in the class and it is not considered cheating. It is supported by the teacher. Moreover, if I don’t understand a piece of writing and someone else in the class does, we can exchange messages over Connect and help each other through the assignment. That is really helpful. I wish more of my English classes used this program." --Wendi Snodgrass

"Connect is great, if it is taught to you as patiently and thoroughly as Dr. Woodlief instructs you in it. Its speed and simplicity could be improved. Realize that there are people out there, like me, who fear and feel negatively about computers. Their incorporation into our society is taking away management jobs and causing problems with information security as we plummet ahead, and as fast as computers are, it might one day prove that the slowness of a human brain might cause an error in a system in a matter of milliseconds, causing huge amounts of damage and/or suffering. As far as teaching is concerned, it is the responsibility of teachers to realize the importance of personal instruction, of vocal communication and the oral tradition that must necessarily be preserved. A balance with computer teaching could utilize the advantages of both, without losing strength as a class in either one or the other would. Anyway, the computer classes are fun, challenging , and interesting; it's just that we have to stay in touch with our humanity." --John Zehmer

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