M. Jessica Mulvena

I found it very interesting to learn the steps that need to be taken to develop a successful online community and the importance of creating clear and consistent guidelines and rubrics to evaluate student participation and communicate expectations.

I learned more about the different generation groups and their communication and learning styles and realize that my online course's communication guidelines must consider these differences. In addition, I learned that because of the nature of online courses, misunderstandings may occur more easily, reinforcing the importance of carefully communicating with students. 

First, it is so important to establish clear Communication Codes of Conduct to ensure that students understand the rules of the course, proper netiquette, and the consequences of not following the rules.  After that, it's key to manage the online communication process and model appropriate communication. The goal is for the communication within the course to become seamless and allow the students to easily navigate the course. I plan to incorporate a FAQ discussion board to help manage email overload and encourage student participation, and I will use a grading rubric for the discussion board.

I have learned how important it is to research the various technology tools before deciding which one(s) will be the most effective and enhance communication in your course.  In addition, it is very important to assess and reflect on the tool's effectiveness using formative and summative formats.