Get Your Students Hired
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Online Communication: Engaging and Retaining Online Learners --> Online Communication Strategies
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Communication is something I highly prioritize in my personal life and strive to improve to the best of my ability. Now that i will be teaching, its nice to see other ways that I can improve my communication to help my students be as successful as possible. These are some strategies that I may also utilize at home!
Great research on online interacting. I know that I will need to sharpen my communication skills and use care when communicating with my students. We need to be approachable and safe as instructors. This is now a bit trickier to do in an online environment.
I have learned the significance of clear communication and an open-door policy to schedule a phone chat or virtual meeting with a student who may feel anxious about dropping the course because they failed the first assignment. It is paramount to be empathetic and support students.
I am very direct when speaking, so typing is difficult as not to sound aggressive. I will work on using the ARC method.
Since I appreciate directness in communication, I can be overly blunt and will experiment with some of the communication and bracketing techniques mentioned in this training to help soften tough conversations.
Showing genuine concern for the student by keeping abreast of their grades, offering feedback often and solutions to their struggles
Addressing students by name in written communications goes a long way in making them feel heard.
Many student emails sent to instructors begin and end of a negative note. "You're teaching method is too difficult and I'm failing."
Adding self-disclosure statements can be helpful here and also addressing a student's anxiety level before offering solutions.
Responding in a timely matter will be the biggest aspect of online communication for students, making them feel that they are valued as a student and are important to us teachers
Using effective online communication skills can positively affect the way others perceive what you are saying online. Using resources such as emojis can enhance the meaning in which you are communicating. Being personal and using ARCS method can also effectively enhance communication.
It is very interesting to know how much impact frequent communication can have on student success and retention and the statistics of an instructor's effective method of communication, attitude, and support on the students.
The importance of having an online community is critical for students. The community can work together and give feedback as well. It a great way to build a team relationship as well.
Learning the language of positive online communication is a prerequisite for teaching as a whole in todays educational climate.
This course has helped me recognize, as an instructor, the areas that I can work on to help the students feel more connected to the course and to each other. Some of the areas I intend to work on are some of the holistic/personalized approaches for the start of the course, particularly setting up a virtual first day of class. I also will work on using positive words instead of negativity when addressing a group or an individual student.
Your written tone is very important when it comes to communicating with your students. Always be positive, affirming, and available for your students.