Frances and David,
Supporting the things we do in class or assignments/projects with research can substantiate opinions is an important concept for students to understand. Thanks!
Frances and Rick,
Tone and emphasizing professional behavior is essential. Thanks for keeping that alive in your classes.
Look forward to your next posts.
Frances and Jill,
Thanks for continuing the conversation. Helping students understand the expectations, in any way you can, is so important. Thanks again.
Frances,
You are right in that the communication tool can engage students and help build that community we so need in online courses. Continue to serve as that good role model.
Stephanie,
That is so true that instructors should back up their rules with meeting those rules. Otherwise students feel that rules are not important and will slack off in work, etc.
Frances
David,
I like that you require research to back up their points even in responses to classmates. I try to enforce that opinions do not really matter if not supported by research.
Frances
Rick,
What a great point about tone! Sometimes I write in a very business-like manner and need to add more "warmth" to my communications. It is sometimes difficult to do without the voice and body language present.
Frances
Jill,
I totally agree that is should be very clear to the student what is expected when it comes to communicating in the classroom, whether it is an email or a response to a discussion board "discussion." Knowing what is expected takes some of the anxiety away from the actual doing of the work.
Frances
Students should be aware of the type of communication available to them in the online environment and the instructor should be consistent in the use of these communication "tools." If something is available but not used, it will give the students an impression that communication with the students is not important to the instructor. This feeling of lack of community will make students feel alienated not only from the instructor but from the other students in the class also.
Modeling appropriate communication to the students is essential. If students are expected to use correct grammar, then instructors should not use texting or other shorthand wording. If responses are required by students in a certain period of time, the instructor should also respond within the period of time. The instructor is the role model for any communication in the online classroom.
Frances
Carolyn,
Consistency and a good explanation of the expectations is essential. We have to set high standards for our students and help them not only understand the standards, but how to achieve the learning objectives.
Thanks for your post!
I have found in my online classes that consistency and standards of what I expect are the 2 most important part of communication.
First, I feel that consistency is very important especially in an online class because you don't see the students in a classroom. For us we have a live chat session but they are not required to attend it so many times I will not even see a student in the live chat. During my first initial live chat I do explain to them all the ways to get a hold of me and how long it will take me to respond. I set up those guidelines and make sure I follow them.
Second, I feel standards of what to expect are important as well. In an online class we only see our students if they log in and attend so many times they may not understand what is expected. I have developed a ppt that I go over during the first live chat on what to expect in the class, how to succeed in the class, and most importantly how to communicate in the class.
MeriAnn,
When you get to know your audience and treat them respectfully, you'll be surprised how they will perform. Thanks for your input.
I think that the two most important pieces to any type of communication are:
1) knowing your audience, understanding your student that you are speaking to, and addressing them in a way that makes them feel comfortable is important.
2) Kindness and respect. If you speak to others as you would like to be spoken to, the information you give will be constructive and positive and help them to move in the right direction.
Muriel,
Thanks for bringing up the language barriers and differences among students. We have to take this into conversation.
Thanks!
When establishing a pattern of communication, I believe the two most important things to consider are cultural differences and student population.
The reason is that there may be a language barrier among students where English is not their native tongue. Furthermore, some students have not been to school in a long period of time and may have to be reminded of etiquette and taught netiquette walking in the door.
~Muriel
Su,
Patter is the key word. And, with frequency and consistency, as you have noted, the pattern will develop. Nice job.
Thanks for your posting.
Dr. Crews and thread,
When establishing a pattern of communication, the two important things to consider, in my opinion, are frequency and consistency.
To establish any pattern, one may argue that it doesn't have to consist of frequency or consistency, but in the realm of communicating with our learners, I believe it does.
One may think about keeping a weekly contact log with the students, sending e-mails, holding weekly teleconferences in the course, etc. The frequency of the communication impacts learners. As for consistency, the students know what to expect (i.e. when to contact, when meetings are scheduled, etc.).
Cheers
Su
Michael,
Students deserve exactly what you have described. We have to be consistent in our communication and make sure we are available to our students. It's great, as you mentioned, to provide various times for communication. Thank you.
I think the 2 most important items in online communication are availability and consistency. If I set clear times when I will and will not be online, the students will not have to guess when they can expect a response. Being available most days and having various times when I will be online then I can offer times that will fit most of the students’ schedules. Personally I offer time in the morning and evening through the week and several times on the weekend and I post exceptions for holidays or conflicts with other meetings.
Darakshan,
Clarity and consequences - two very good points. Students must understand the communication rules and how to adhere to them. Thanks.
