The Epic of the Online Classroom

Before deciding how to describe the Epic of the Online Classroom, I thought it would be beneficial to define the word epic. Wilkipedia defines the word epic as a long narrative poem in elevated stature presenting characters of high position in adventures forming an organic whole through their relation to a central heroic figure and through their development of episodes important to the history of a nation or race.

Traditionally epics are viewed as stories such as the Epic of Gilgamesh. However, I think a case can be built that the online classrooms today are forming their own version of an epic. They are doing this with one of the newest form of written communication, the internet. The students in online classrooms are on continuous adventures through relations with professors, other students, and even technology; in doing so they are developing episodes important to education.

Characters in an epic story would have to adhere to certain expectations. Students in online classrooms are also expected to follow certain expectations. An example of guidelines an epic character may have to follow is those listed in the Code of Hammaurabi. While those guidelines would not apply to a student in an online classroom, students have their own set of expectations: Nettiquette.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest written communication, and the code of Hammurabi is the oldest set of laws known to man. It is exciting to know that we can review history and see how far man has come, as well as being a part of the other end of the spectrum – the newest form of written communication with its own set of laws.