Civility and Managing Overall Communication | Origin: EL105
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Online Language: Communicating with Students --> Civility and Managing Overall Communication
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Netiquette is a new word for me, and implies exactly what we need from people using written online communication.
The first step in managing the communication process is to develop guidelines and a communication code of conduct. It is important to choose the appropriate method and to be consistent and timely with all communications.
Communication is crucial in online courses. Having strong guidelines are foundational
From this module, I’ve learned how critical it is to establish communication guidelines and manage the entire communication process intentionally and consistently in an online learning environment. Civility is not just about being polite—it’s about creating a respectful, supportive space where instructor-to-student (I2S), student-to-instructor (S2I), and student-to-student (S2S) communication can flourish.
One key takeaway is the importance of setting communication protocols upfront, including expectations for response time, discussion board participation, and appropriate behavior. These guidelines help prevent misunderstandings and reinforce academic integrity. I now understand how essential it is to include clear policies—such as FAQ discussion boards, email hours, and academic honesty contracts—within the course syllabus or as a separate assessment to ensure students fully grasp expectations.
Going forward, I plan to apply this by developing a pattern of communication that is clear, consistent, and inclusive. I will use technology tools strategically (like Zoom for check-ins, text for reminders, and email for more detailed messages), and I’ll regularly assess their effectiveness through both formative and summative feedback. I will also prioritize modeling respectful communication and ensuring students understand both the expectations and the consequences for not following them.
By managing communication proactively and civilly, I can help foster a learning community that is respectful, well-organized, and highly engaged.
I learned how important it is to communicate to students about rules and regulations when it comes to communicating in an online environment. I learned that that one way to address this is to include a policy in the syllabus so students understand the expectations. I do include a Netiquette section in my syllabi and address it in the first module of the semester.
During my first course session of every semester, I only really cover one communication "rule" and that is that students need to be respectful of one another during our live meetings. I explain that I will remove any who is not being respectful from the live lecture. However, I do not give specifics, nor do I explain this rule with any depth. I think, in the future, setting down specific guidelines and sharing those guidelines in a more cohesive way will be helpful.
Effective communication is they 'key" to short-circuiting some classroom/syllabus issues - instructions/expectations must be written clearly and convincingly.
In addition to a communication code of conduct, a pattern of communication sets expectations for reliable contact.
This module provided best practices in creating and sustaining protocols for communication between instructors and students in an online environment. Netiquette must be addressed in the protocol to maintain civility among the users. The protocol needs to include guidelines for the tools being used, frequency of use, participation requirements, and enforcement for those who do not abide by the rules.
Civility is of vital importance and a skill that I fear we have lost. It is an art to make a point without diminishing other's points of view. Something as simple as "I can see where you're coming from. My experience is this..." can go a long way. One thing I try to practice in my professional emails is to include a greeting such as "Good morning" or "I hope you are doing well."
There's many factors that can make effective communication for student to Instructor (S2I) and student to student (S2S). Boundaries (rules) must be established in the initial steps of classroom instruction. Setting the guidelines for civility within the online community allows us to become transparent and enhances the productivity for students to grow and impact their grades positively. The students must understand that the classroom does not tolerate non-sense and can have a negative impact in the individuals grade and or course drop altogether.
Communication is the main thing that has to be clear, so it has to be correct and clear.. Next there has to be rules that everyone has to abide by .
This module has highlighted the effectiveness of various digital communication tools in enhancing the learning experience. I gained insight into strategically selecting tools, such as texting for personalized interactions and teleconferencing for collaborative discussions. Additionally, the concept of regular feedback collection every 3-5 weeks has underscored the importance of ongoing evaluation and improvement in online instruction.
I like the idea of making clear expectations of what is appropriate and not appropriate for communicating online. Setting those boundaries ahead of time. You can get your point across and remain respectful which sometimes students' do not understand.
I've learned that clear communication guidelines, such as a Code of Conduct, are essential for a respectful online class. I'll focus on proactive management, setting expectations, and modeling good behavior. I'll utilize tools like FAQs to ensure that academic honesty is clearly understood. What are your top tips for creating an effective FAQ section?
I like the idea of posting the communication guidelines in the syllabus and having them take an "exam" on it, so they are aware of the expectations from the beginning. Too often instructors rely on students to read the syllabus or handbook, but do not make any additional efforts to ensure they read and understand the guidelines.
I really like the idea of not only have a code of conduct for communication and rules regarding communication but also a rubric. The rubric not only helps the students to see their participation, behavior, etc. correlated with a certain grade, but it also gives the instructor a fair guideline for feedback and grading. Communication is such a broad area with so many potential "gray" areas, a rubric really helps it to become more concrete.
I learned to start working on a communication code of conduct.
There are a lot of different ways to communicate online picking the best one for your course that will be functional and allow for consistency is important.
