Creating an Online Teaching Communication Plan
Keeping Distance Education Effective and Manageable
Nov 3, 2009
Participation is a vital element for learning in the online classroom. As Misanchuk and Anderson note in their article "Building Community in an Online Learning Environment", both social and academic skills play a role in furthering students' educational growth within the course. That is why it is so vital for instructors to both understand and plan ahead for effective communication within a distance education course regardless of their discipline .
Key Components of Online Communication
Good communication is not an accident. Even in the traditional classroom it requires that instructors be prepared and plan well. Online educators have the unique benefit of being able to review and revise even the most simple interaction with students.
How to Create an Effective Plan
- Research communication: an effective instructor is one who understands the key components of communication in the online environment. Taking some time to read the latest book on the subject is vital because the reality is that online communication is more complex than it may at first appear and nothing should be taken for granted.
- Understand oneself : instructors should be realistic regarding how s/he likes to connect with students. This includes everything from the time of day one prefers to interact with students to the title/name one wishes students to use.
- Observe a distance education course: most institutions include course observation as a part of instructor training. Instructors need to make the most of this time.
- Evaluate the course boundaries: instructors should be sure to know the expectations of their institution (for example, Kaplan online asks instructors to post a minimum of eight times, while others expect two within every 24 hour period). Also, know what is expected of students in terms of number of posts.
What to Include in a Communication Plan
When creating the communication plan, an instructor should include the following:
- Schedule: instructors should have set times for responding to students. They should treat posting as if it were a face-to-face class that meets at set times.
- Ethos: students form their opinions based on what instructors post. Therefore, instructors should be aware of how their tone, wording, and frequency affect student opinions of them and address these in their plan.
- Personal Connection: online courses can potentially be isolating for both students and instructors. When creating a communication plan instructors should plan to make a personal connection with each student. This can be done via follow up posts in the course itself or an email complimenting or otherwise following up with the student.
- Consistency: Students should be able to know generally when their instructor works online and how long it will be before an email receives a response. Being consistent is one of the keystones to good online communication.
- Dash of humor: while instructors should be very careful about using humor since it can be misinterpreted, a funny comment, link to a humorous website, or the posting of a favorite comic can be very helpful in creating an open communication with students.
Enjoying Success as an Online Educator
Instructors should create a plan for themselves knowing that this will enhance the learning that occurs in a course and that it will greatly reduce stress for all. Having a plan can keep an instructor from being overwhelmed and from being remote – two factors that greatly hinder an online class.
Once a plan is in place, instructors can relax a bit knowing that they too are about to embark on a great learning adventure in the online classroom.
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