A book discussion subject: Using the Web to add style and substance

Kathleen Gray

Dept of Applied Biology & Biotechnology
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Contact: k.gray@rmit.EDU.AU

The Environment Book Club [http://www.bh.rmit.edu.au/abbt/bookclub/] is an elective environmental studies subject for undergraduates, trialed for the first time in second semester 1998. It takes an innovative and flexible approach to study materials, delivery options, and teaching and learning styles.

Previous experience with another, fully Web-based, elective subject Living in the Environment [http://www.bh.rmit.edu.au/abbt/cc004/] indicated that some students might be:

  • interested in reading substantial environmental works offline
  • attracted to very versatile conditions for studying online and in class
  • challenged by the chance to produce critical written analysis for publication

In the Book Club, the study materials are two recently published books, written for educated general readership, which present a sustained argument about the relationship between humans and the natural environment. Taking advantage of the good selection of books in this category that are being published each year, the Book Club changes the books under study each semester.

The Book Club operates two parallel modes, a weekly face-to-face seminar, and an asynchronous online discussion on the Web. An on-campus student can to switch from one mode to the other, when moving from the first book to the second book. The online mode allows interaction between students from various faculties and campuses, those studying fractionally or externally, and those on work placements. Teaching is also flexible - discussion of each book can be managed by a different lecturer; the online mode enables a lecturer to manage a group with few time or place constraints.

Lecturers moderating a Book Club group set the first book, and the students in the group collectively choose the second one. Lecturers read and comment on books that may be new to them, at the same time as students do. Students are responsible for contributing questions and comments to group discussion, and writing a formal review of each book. In the online mode, book authors or other interested parties are invited to participate in the discussions as guests. Lecturers and students select the best student reviews for publication at a linked, publicly accessible Environment Book Reviews Web site.

The Book Club offers a template for similar subjects, in which the use of the Web:

  • gives cohesion and continuity to a mix of study options
  • preserves and promotes worthwhile student work for a wider audience
  • lets students and lecturers in a range of circumstances share in interdisciplinary thought on contemporary issues.