When we attend a course, we are admitting that we are lacking knowledge, and that we need support. So it is difficult to further acknowledge that fact by asking questions that reveal our lack of knowledge, and maybe even more difficult to make assertions that we think might be challenged.
This is hard enough in a classroom setting, but at least there it is expected that the instructor will from time to time call upon students by name and challenge them to speak their thoughts on the spur of the moment. Can we do that in an online forum?
Online forums can at times feel like speaking into the ether--like our postings are are sent, but not read by anyone. That is one more barrier to getting students to contribute.
Heleen and Philip, I am wondering if you share these thoughts. Do you agree the the fear induced by the learning situation itself sets up barriers to open communication that must be overcome by a clever and sensitive instructor?