CS4ODFL/Understanding the foundations of communication and interaction in ODFL contexts/Why do we communicate?

=Communicating with Online Learners=

Effective communication with students in online classes is of utmost importance. As teachers, you would agree that communicating with your students is the core of an online class. Active and timely communication supports teaching presence and when instructors participate supportively and frequently, students perceive the instructor as both enthusiastic and as an expert in the field. It's also more than student satisfaction on course evaluations. Starting out as you mean to go along by communicating in a welcoming and supportive manner from the beginning with a personal course introduction, an approachable syllabus, and an interactive introduction discussion sets the tone for the class.

The objective of online communication remains the same as that of face-to-face communication: building links, share information, be heard, generate meaning, and be understood. However, there are a few significant differences that exist between face-to-face and computer mediated communication.

Communication in an ODFL Environment
While effectively communicating with the students in your online classes aids in the retention of your students, as educators, we should want to do more than just retain our students. We should provide them with a sense of community while enrolled in online classes to avoid the sense of isolation that some online students experience. The goal of online communications is the same as the goal in face-to-face communications: to bond; to share information; to be heard, and to be understood. Fostering a sense of community in online classes will make the learning experience more meaningful for online students and help them stay connected during the life of the course. Learning Management Systems (LMS) have built-in tools to assist in communicating with your online students, but there are also many other technology tools to help you bridge the gap between you and your online students.

More information on communication tools and skills can be accessed in Module 3 under the topic “Create a course communication skill”. (link)

Furthermore, communication in an online class can take on a variety of form ranging from announcements, moderation of discussion, mini video progress reviews, and basic text-based content. Together with good communication tools and skills, it is essential for teachers to follow constructive guidelines for effective communication in an online class.

Guidelines for Effective Communication in Online Classes
Here are some guidelines that you can use to help you write a communication that will be timely, relevant, and useful to your online students:


 * Remember, Less is More – When you are composing the message that you will be sending to your online students, try to use as few words as possible while ensuring that your intended message is communicated with your choice of words.
 * Be Clear – Not only should your message to your students be concise, but it also needs to be clear and leave no room for confusion on the student’s part.
 * Method of Communication – Before you determine how you will send your message to your students, you will need to determine how important the information being sent is to your students.
 * Know Your Audience - When you are communicating with your online students it is important to remember that they may be ethnically diverse and of varying ages. These factors may affect how they perceive your communication.
 * Make Your Communications Personal - The students in your online classes want to feel connected to the instructor and to their classmates.
 * Send audio messages - Allowing your online students to hear your voice will also help them form a bond with you and help them to feel your presence more firmly in the class.
 * Provide Timely Feedback - Because your online students are learning from a distance, it is important that they receive timely and consistent feedback regarding their progress in the class.
 * Keep your Virtual Gradebook Current. Your online gradebook should be the place where your students can consistently go to assess how they are progressing in your class.
 * Go! Live and synchronous. Hosting online office hours using Zoom, Blackboard Instant Messaging or Chat Quick can make a more personal connection with your online students. During virtual office hours, students can ask questions and get an answer in real time.
 * Ask for their opinion. Asking your students what they think adds another personal touch to your communications.