Said it once? Said it twice? Say it again! Overcommunication is especially important in an online course.
- Communicate using multiple methods (e.g., announcements, discussions, email) so you can appeal to different learning styles.
- Communicate once, twice, even multiple times–overcommunicate.
- Don’t assume students know what is expected of them.
- Don’t assume students know how to use the LMS tools.
Without body language, context, and other visual communication cues, the online instructor must carefully communicate to ensure they aren’t misleading students or inadvertently creating an unfriendly tone. Here are some of tips:
- Communicate with sensitivity to various student preferences, communication styles, and learning styles.
- Be conscious of your tone, which should be participatory and collegial.
- Be prompt in giving student feedback, and responsive to students’ questions.
I received my B.A. in English with a minor in Journalism from Wake Forest University and an M.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University Bloomington. I see the role of an instructional designer as one that removes barriers to learning online content. Those barriers might be ones of accessibility, clarity, motivation, or something else that we discover as the online education continues to be refined. My job is to collaborate with instructors to make their content shine.
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