Communicating online for learning is different than communicating online for fun. When you communicate online, remember that you are relying on the written word, so you don't get to see a person‘s body language or hear the tone of their voice, which can lead to misunderstandings. This guide will help you navigate communicating in an online classroom.
When communicating online, it’s important to:
- Consider what it means to be respectful online in a classroom setting.
- Consider who your audience is and what they need. For example, if your professor is grading a discussion post, they’ll want you to use full sentences and cite your ideas because they are evaluating these skills. If you’re chatting with classmates, they just need your ideas clearly and concisely.
- Consider how you’re creating space for others to participate.
- Consider the purpose and intention of the message.
- Consider that others are doing the best they can – assume good intent.
- Consider that the classroom space is different than a social media space. Honor confidentiality within the online class.
Learn more about respectful spaces, security, and communication tips in the PDF below.