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COMMUNICATION
Humans' desire to understand and be understood. These two desires are the goal of all human interaction and communication. In education, communication helps cultivate spaces in which intellectual and social bonds can form, information can be shared, and students can understand and be understood. However, communication in eLearning is not easy and takes conscious, intentional effort, from both the student and instructor, to optimize the student's experience in an online classroom.
You Are an Influencer
You may not be an instagram influencer, but you have great influence over the success of your students. In fact, your sphere of influence may be smaller, but holds greater weight.
Students have invest their time, money, and energy to acquire knowledge from your teaching. You cannot take full responsibility for students' participation or lack thereof, but you are the catalyst for the way students participate.
Strategy 1: The Zone of Proximal Development
Vygotsky's theory of The Zone of Proximal Development describes the space between where students are able to learn on their own and the potential of learning via the instructor's teaching and student interaction. The theory notes that the most advantageous learning experience is a result of both an instructor's guidance and learner interaction. Vygotsky once said, “human learning presupposes a specific social nature." As a result, clear and consistent communication between instructors and students is critical in online learning.
The two primary functions of a teacher are to design and facilitate. For the sake of our discussion on Vygotsky's theory, let's focus solely on facilitating. As an instructor, you set the precedent for communication in your course. You are the catalyst for how students will participate and interact with you, the course content, and their peers.
"Several studies showed that students with high social presence also had increased perceptions of quality learning as well as satisfaction with their instructors" (As cited in Humanizing Online Teaching and Learning: Akyol & Garrison, 2008; Picciano, 2002; Richardson & Swan, 2003). What an instructor gives is what they will get.
Remember: Students tend to choose online learning out of necessity. Whether the reason is money, scheduling, or family responsibilities, an instructor must acknowledge that online learning may not be a students' first choice, but it may be their only choice. Students deserve nothing less than an interactive environment that aids in the learning process.
Strategy 2: Consistent, Clear, & Creative
Be Consistent: Have a solid communication plan before starting the course. Know the main modes of communication, you plan to use as the instructor. What will be your primary means of communication emails, announcements, etc.?
Take into account the most effective communication tools to use and students communication styles'. If you don't know your students prior to the course, have them take a survey that enables you to best serve their communication needs.
Be clear: Find the most concise way to describe what is required of the student. Use as few words as possible. Simply give the student the necessary information and offer to have them contact you with further questions.
Be Creative: Realize that your students have varied communication needs. Utilize different applications and media to inform students while still keeping in mind clarity and consistency with when and where you post.
The Right Tool
Finding the right communication tools can be difficult. But the good news is that there are plenty of options available. Here are three different communication tools you can utilize in your course:
LMS
Check and see all the communication resources that already exist within the LMS you are using:
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announcements
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messaging
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course calendar
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wikis
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discussion boards
Go To Meetings
Checkout resources outside of the LMS. Go To Meetings can provide:
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Live meetings
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Share screen options
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Drawing and sharing tools
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Recordings and transcriptions of video calls
Voice Thread
While there are some built in options with LMS that are similar to Voice Thread. Voice Thread has some great features:
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Upload images, videos, presentations, or documents
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Add audio/text comments to uploads