Using web conferencing to teach constructivist, discussion-rich seminars: can it work?

[...]Life and Second Lifetype programs allow students to manipulate things in a 3D-like space online. The author also administered an anonymous online survey to her students at the end of each of the course offerings, inquiring such things as "If you prefer online courses over face-to-face courses, please list the reasons why below;" "If you had a choice of doing this class synchronously (like we did) or asynchronously, the whole semester, which would you prefer and why?"; "Did you find yourself more or less PRESENT in class with the online, synchronous format (as compared to conventional F2F classes or compared to asynchronous online classes)?" RESULTS The answer to the research questions was a qualified yes; Adobe Connect can be used to create a highly interactive synchronous course, rich in linear discussion and small-group activities and a sense of community, but there are obstacles, some of which can be overcome with time and effort, others of which cannot be overcome, thus diminishing constructivist and community-building aspects that are more easily present in a F2F course.