Measuring Good Communication | Origin: EL105
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Online Language: Communicating with Students --> Measuring Good Communication
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Keep participation rules campus wide. It allows students to not be worried about the logistics. If a change has to be made to these, it should be readily discussed!
In this module, I learned that the instructor acts more as a facilitator and that online discussions are to promote critical thinking. The instructor should be able to be a guide on the side and keep track of communication to make sure discussion topics don't veer of from fully comprehending what is important.
structure and communication is the key for online learning/teaching. A Rubric can offer clear communication of course objectives but also be used as an evaluation tool of the students learning
For instructors, a rubric is primarily a scoring tool that breaks down a project or various assignments into their main components, with detailed descriptions for different levels of performance for each component. Rubrics offer clear expectations for students and assist educators in grading consistently and providing targeted feedback. They are usually presented in a table or grid format.
Clear alignment of rubrics with instructions is key.
This module provided a better understanding of what effective online communication is and the role that netiquette plays in creating virtual environments that promote learning and ongoing respect. It is always beneficial to understand how to improve communication in a more efficient, clear, and respectful manner toward others, without compromising professionalism in the workplace.
From this module on measuring good communication, I learned that effective communication isn’t just about sending a message—it’s about ensuring that the message is clearly understood and leads to the intended outcome. Key elements like clarity, tone, feedback, and active listening are essential for successful communication, especially in an online environment where nonverbal cues are limited.
I also learned the importance of setting clear communication guidelines and using tools like rubrics or feedback surveys to assess and improve communication practices regularly.
I intend to apply these principles by being more mindful of how I craft my messages, asking for feedback to confirm understanding, and encouraging open dialogue in group projects or discussions. This approach will help foster better collaboration and reduce misunderstandings in any communication setting I’m involved in.
In this module, I learned the importance of effective online communication and the role that netiquette plays in creating a positive and respectful virtual learning environment. I gained a better understanding of how to communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally in online discussions, emails, and group work.
One key takeaway for me was how a well-defined communication code of conduct helps set expectations and reduces misunderstandings. I also learned about the importance of tone, clarity, and empathy when engaging with peers and instructors in digital spaces.
I intend to apply what I’ve learned by being more mindful of my tone and word choice in online discussions and making sure to contribute in a constructive and respectful way. Whether I’m participating in group projects or sending messages to instructors, I now understand how crucial it is to maintain professionalism and courtesy.
In this module, I gained a clearer understanding of what effective communication entails and how much of it is truly necessary. I learned that replying too often to discussion posts may not always add value. Sometimes, it is more effective to stay in the background observing, guiding, and acknowledging students who engage in discussions and respond to their classmates. This approach helps create a more meaningful and collaborative learning environment.
In this module I've learnt what is good communication and how much communication is required. Too frequent replies to discussion posts is not always helpful. I've learnt how to be in the background to monitor and recognize students who participate in the discussions and reply to other student posts as well.
I've found the least effective discussions are those where all the students answer specific questions on the same topic. They are then to comment on at least three of their peer's initial post on the same topic. In technical writing, this often turns into micro-essays that say the same thing. It is really challenging for the students to make substantive comments to each other without getting into the "I agree" answers. They know they can't do this but are challenged to think up why they spend more time thinking up clever questions than discussing the topic. I think it works better to have them do some discussion of the topic but then move on into how they have or will put the topic into practice. This gives them more room for critical thinking and is more meaningful to them.
Along the lines of setting expectations, students can also benefit by having rubrics for the assignments. Students can see what further about the content to include. The rubric is always a form of communication about assignments as the course unfolds.
It is important to share clear guidelines for participation in the class, as well as course expectations and procedures.
Instructors Communication with students is established by promoting community value and can be measured by Outcomes/Objective analysis using Rubics to measure content comprehension, Critical Thinking, recognition of significance, degree postings help engage discussion, quality of writing, and connected to real-life experiences. When Classroom communication moves to Student Collaboration to meet common goals at an academic level and personal level this is a good sign of establishing community and students learn at a higher level and will be remembered.
Instructors should set clear expectations for all coursework and use rubrics to not only communicate expectations for each assignment but also allows students to know what they need to do to ensure assignments meet this criteria.
The instructor sets the guidelines and the tones. The instructor may need to lead the way (model) in the beginning, but can start to ease off a little and let community grow afterward. The instructor must still regulate the discussions, but can begin to use open-ended, thought-provoking questions to help foster online learning.
In this section, I understood two major things. First, you are looking to foster a community of learners, so that they can learn and build off of each other and their knowledge. Second, it is important to use rubrics, and carefully constructed rubrics at that, to ensure that students know what is expected of them in a discussion post. For example, I always look for critical thinking and try to model that.
Grade fairly according to your rubrics and always be firm but fair.
In addition to high level of student participation, it is important to ensure the quality of participation. Well-defined rubrics help instructors to assess and improve the quality of discussions. Employing instructional strategies which allow one to effectively communicate and collaborate helps develop a meaningful community where students feel safe to share their opinions and viewpoints.
