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.
These modules highlighted how quality matters more than quantity when it comes to student participation. I learned that clear rubrics, active instructor presence, and a strong community culture help ensure discussions are meaningful. Monitoring participation and modeling respectful interaction are essential to fostering an engaging and supportive online environment.
I liked the use of the rubrics, they show students what you are looking for on their assignments or projects. The rubric is clear and the standard are clear. Communicating with the students is key to their success.
Communication is key whether verbal or written.
Hi,
The value of the rubric was emphasized. While I do this for assignments from students, I've never thought of using a rubric to have students complete one for peer-peer interaction or for group projects.
The Rubistar link looks like it would help create a nice grading guideline for a variety of subjects.
Effective and timely communications between instructors and students is crucial in creating a positive environment for online learning. This will help to build a sense of community and increase student engagement.
I appreciate the idea of letting the students create community through the course
I learned in this module the importance of creating a community in the online course. I also have learned that the instructor should develop a clear code of conduct for students communicating in discussion forums. This can be highlighted in the syllabus and also referenced during discussion or in the module assignments during the semester. I have created a code of conduct for discussions and other communication that is located in my syllabi for my courses. In addition, I made a video that students are required to watch that addresses this code of conduct. This video is part of an assignment during the first week of class.
Measuring Good Communication – What I’ve Learned and How I Intend to Apply It
From this module, I’ve learned that measuring good communication in online learning goes far beyond counting discussion posts or tracking attendance. Effective communication must be clear, timely, purposeful, and community-centered. It's not just about interaction—it's about quality interaction that fosters critical thinking, engagement, and collaboration.
A major takeaway is the importance of using rubrics to assess communication. Well-designed rubrics help instructors evaluate online discussions consistently by focusing on criteria like relevance, netiquette, justification, grammar, and contribution to the learning community. These tools not only ensure fairness but also set clear expectations for students, helping them improve the quality of their posts.
I also learned that good communication is supported by setting a clear code of conduct, encouraging meaningful discussion rather than minimal or repetitive replies, and providing feedback that builds student confidence and accountability. Another vital component is facilitating a sense of community where students feel safe to share ideas—this is where true engagement begins.
Moving forward, I will apply this by integrating rubrics, value statements, and participation guidelines into my online course syllabi. I’ll also monitor discussions regularly, provide constructive feedback, and guide students toward deeper dialogue—so communication becomes a tool for learning, not just a requirement to check off.
I have found very few students who enjoy participating in discussion boards, I think it partly the idea behind them being obligated to participate, but mainly due my inability to facilitate discussions well. I need to do better about fostering a good conversation amongst the students.
Rubrics are a great form of communication unto themselves. They help the instructor to set clear guidelines for success and the student to understand the valuable features of a lesson.
