From the Chronicle of Higher Education:
Such student-to-student learning happens in less structured ways in many large online classes, where students might break off into informal study groups using Google or Yahoo e-mail lists, or meet up on social news Web sites like Reddit.com. Some MIT classes provide links to a site called OpenStudy.... Bill Maurer, a professor of anthropology at the University of California at Irvine, says faculty members who are trained to mediate touchy topics are better able to draw out students who might clam up in an open classroom. He also wonders whether peers can "help you think of the questions you aren't thinking and not just help you complete a task."

For the full story, please visit http://chronicle.com/article/In-This-Online-University/132307//