Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime

10.11. REDEEM TROUBLEMAKERS

You may have a few learners who are not just unmotivated but are actually negatively motivated. They prevent themselves and others from learning.

These troublemakers are the same type as in the classroom. However, in WBT troublemakers may be more frequent and their behavior more severe than in classroom learning. Research on computer-mediated communication has found that incidents of rude, abusive, and disruptive behavior increase when face-to-face contact is replaced with computer-mediated communication.

10.11.1. Who are the troublemakers?

Although troublemakers come in every size, shape, age, nationality, and background you can imagine, a few behavioral types are especially common and especially noxious. Here is a list of common nightmares:

Bully. The Bully intimidates others through emotional criticism, sarcasm, or personal attack. Of all the troublemakers, the bully poses the greatest threat to other learners.

Pouter. The Pouter refuses to participate in collaborative activities. The pouter communicates tersely if at all.

Whiner. Whiners complain continually about the course, the instructor, and other learners. If everyone complains, then the course may be at fault, but if one person complains, you probably have a whiner.

Know-it-all. The know-it-all has all the answers. Know-it-alls vigorously defend their prejudices and never change opinions. The Know-it-all is often critical of other learners.

Dominator. The Dominator has to win every argument, ...