Comment on Sondra Gentry's post:
You're right—setting clear expectations from the start is key to creating a productive and respectful online learning environment. I’ve found that embedding expectations not just in the syllabus, but also within weekly announcements, rubrics, and even discussion board prompts, helps reinforce them consistently. It’s also helpful to model the tone and quality of communication I expect by responding to students in a way that’s clear, encouraging, and professional.
Have you ever used a communication rubric or contract at the start of the course to help set the tone? I’m considering implementing one to support students who are new to online learning and could use extra structure.
