Nicole,
Pattern is the key. We have to be consistent and continue to communicate to develop that pattern.
Richard,
Nice job. These things will help you develop that "pattern" which is our goal. Thank you.
Berrie,
Right on! Time and response are key elements. Thanks for your input in this forum.
When establishing a pattern of communication, there several to things to consider, but if I am only to talk about two, I believe are the two most important things to consider are ongoing communication and Formative feedback.
An ongoing communication gets everyone pulling in the same direction and enables instructors to good opportunity to motivate students’ participations in the class. Effective ongoing communication can benefit students as well as instructors, where occasional communication may results in fading participation, and or students' disappointment. Therefore, creating a sustainable strategy to communicate all key points to the students would be a key to good communication. It is human nature that people want to be well informed, and that becomes more important in any learning environment.
Formative feedback: A we all know, feedback used in online educational contexts is generally regarded by many educators as crucial to improving knowledge and students’ achievement. In my years of experience, I can see that in addition to its influence on achievement, formative feedback is also a significant factor in motivating learning, where Information within the feedback may address the accuracy of students’ work or completed task, and could in some cases touch on particular errors, mistakes and or incomplete points.
Zak Saleh
Zakaria,
You are right. There are so many things to consider. Thanks for your list and informative post.
The two most important things to consider when establishing a pattern of communication are:
(1) Timeliness and availability -
It is important for the instructor in an online environment to make himself as readily available and accessible to the students as much as possible to help ensure high levels of student engagement and encouragement. Also, the instructor should always strive to respond to student questions and concerns as quickly as possible (within 24 hours) so that any information or misconceptions may be clarified and students can continue moving forward within the course.
(2) Respect and civility -
It is important for the instructor to establish a culture for respect and civility within the online learning environment to help ensure that each student feels comfortable in expressing his or her thoughts and ideas on the subject matter and the weekly discussion topics.
1. Setting the standard- so for example, tone and expectation
2. Making sure everyone is respectful of one another
Dr. Crews,
Establishing a pattern of communication, there are a couple of things to consider that the lecture taught us. For example, frequent communication and consistency are good establishments for touching bases with the learner. If a student is known to be 'at risk' (i.e. has repeated the course before), having a consistent communication, such as weekly emails, or meeting with the student due to not submitting an assignment, and frequent (such as calling the student twice a week). It is important to establish a pattern so that the student understand their expectations for the course and have feedback.
Cheers
Emry
Hello,
When establishing a pattern of communication, the two most important things to consider are consistency and guidelines. When you are communicating with students, they need to know that you are consistent with feedback and general participation. Knowing what to expect helps them to feel at ease in the class. Giving guidelines is crucial because this sets the pattern for the entire course, so students know what to expect and can accomplish their assignments accordingly. If they know this up front, there won't be problems and confusion later.
Amanda
The two most important items to consider for a pattern of communication are:
1. Establishing expectations. Letting the students know what is expected of them and what they can expect of you is helpful in setting standards of interaction.This includes- agreeing to disagree, polite, professional and respectful communication to everyone on the board and proper spelling and grammar to articulate your message.
2. Timeliness. It is imperative for students and the instructor to participate and to do so in a timely way. When the instructor can respond to a comment or post a topic for conversation, or students become engaged in an interesting discussion, energy and enthusiasm can be generated by demonstrating that "someone is watching and listening". Students and instructors are equally able to contribute by being present and commenting in thoughtful ways. (And a few jokes don't hurt either.) Another aspect of timeliness is to use current examples or situations to support concepts or commentary that are being discussed.
Beth,
Right on! Those expectations come from communicating the learning outcomes clearly and timeliness in your communication, feedback, etc. is important. Thank you.
Brandon,
Thanks for your input. It's so important to emphasize respect and to be available to your students. Nice job.
Elivett,
It is important to note that we, as instructors, are the role models. We have to make sure we are setting the proper tone. Thanks!
Amanda,
I agree with your post for sure. And, that consistency comes with good guidelines. Nice job.
A couple of things would need to be established such as when communication will occur and what system will be used for which purposes. Students will question the course mapping if they do not understand where to go for information or assignments and how to complete the communication.
I agree, as an online instructor I find it easy to check messages frequently even on weekends and I usually provide my personal cell phone number for times when a student needs immediate help.
The difficult part with technology,short of systems like skype, is that misunderstandings can easily happen. I have had to mitigate between students simply because one would make a joke or humorous statement which was misunderstood as disrespect. Students particularly non-traditional ones need the guidance on proper communication etiquette.
Emry,
Yes, "pattern" is the key word. When you are consistent and you have frequent communication, you can definitely begin a pattern. Thanks!
William,
Clear communication is essential and many times difficult. There are various systems to help alleviate some misunderstandings. Thanks!
William,
It's interesting how some instructors are open to giving their cell phone number and others are not. We have to do what works for us. Thanks!
