Authentic Interaction

A couple of points I would like to hit on.
1. authentic interaction and
2. computer interaction.
Authentic and meaningful interaction...What is it? I believe that it would have something to do with purposeful action or actions that result in something being achieved or communicated. How authentic is any classroom activity, apart from transferring and receiving information. The only real world, truly authentic language task is outside in the real world on some kind of excursion. So, in CALL terms, what is really authentic and meaningful. A computer game would be. Internet shopping would be, too. However, when it comes to many activities (my blog included), how many are really categorized as meaninful and authentic. I tried one activity in a class once which used a Dawson's creek video to provide the subject matter for an online discussion board. The students were using technology to communicate their feelings to each other. The Ss were incredibly motivated, and eager to use the technology, because they wanted to discuss ideas...and the computer allowed them to do so. It wasn't without problems, however. It was limited by the technology itself (which was the program).

2. Computer interaction and human interaction... Would Ss really care? If the program was say, as interactive as say these role playing games...would students not have more fun, than sitting in a dull and boring audio-lingual class, or trudging through mindless grammar translation method or going through one of those thick TOEIC/TOEFL/IELTS preparation books... Food for thought...
Thanks for beginning this discussion....
Steve