Tips on communication
Communicating effectively involves not only speaking well, but listening well, too. Active-listening tools, such as those in the following list, help you hold up your end of a successful conversation or discussion.
Concentrate on what the speaker has to say.
Listen for content and emotion to understand the entire message.
Maintain steady eye contact so speakers know your attention is with them.
Reflect back with verbal feedback to confirm your understanding of the message.
Christopher,
I agree with everything you said . . . now how do you do this online. How do you become an active "reader"?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Communication is basically taking internal thoughts, ideas, and/or feelings and transferring them to a form others can understand. Therefore,
it must be complete, consistent, error-free,
and appropriate.
m,
You make such an important point. Students need communication expectations and need to be held to them. Instructors need to model them.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
These are great observations but can be difficult in an on line environment. Especially with asynchronous classes, the ability to see and directly interact visually with students is or can be almost impossible.
Harry,
True but you can can set expectations and go "offline" to discuss behavior with a students. I provide examples of good communication and bad communication. There seems to always be a great example in the media regarding poor communication behavior. Communicating well is too important a skill to ignore.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
