Lesson 3: Electronic Communication

Attention

You actually said that in class??
Let's find out how to avoid this kind of situation!

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Distinguish between different forms of online communication (private/public, personal/professional)
  • Identify specific expectations for etiquette in electronic communication

Teaching

In Lesson 2 we learned all about the forms of communication here at KVCC...email, Blackboard, the website, etc.

All of these modes are "official" and are the avenues for "Professional Communication" at KVCC...these tools are used differently than you might use other communication tools such as your own private email or Facebook!

Private/Public and Personal/Professional

In a moment we are going to review the etiquette of communicating through these modes, but first we need to decide when it is important to use this etiquette.

While polite writing in emails and all other forms of communication is desirable, it is required in the communication that you engage in at KVCC

Private and Personal communication does not necessarily need to follow these rules...that is between you and your friends/family.

KVCC Email is (sort of) Private, but it is Professional

  • KVCC email is only read by the person who you are sending that email to
  • However, if there are problems with inappropriate use or the need arises to track a persons' email, we can do that...so the KVCC email should be used for official communication only and be aware that nothing is ever really deleted!
  • Because it is Professional you need to comply with the etiquette rules below

KVCC Blackboard Email is (sort of) Private, but it is Professional

  • Much of the same applies to this email that is true for regular KVCC email

KVCC Blackboard Discussions are Public and Professional

  • When you post a comment in a discussion board in a Blackboard class the WHOLE CLASS can see your comments
  • If you have been placed in a GROUP in the discussions then only your group can see your message
  • Be careful what you post in the discussions....you might be giving and example of something from your life and even though you don't use anyone's name, there may be people in the class who know the person you are talking about!

Electronic Communication Etiquette

Etiquette refers to the "code of behavior" that is expected of you. In this case, it is the code of behavior when you are communicating here at KVCC.

ONLINE ETIQUETTE

http://www.kent.edu/dl/Technology/Etiquette.cfm

Taking an online course and corresponding via the World Wide Web presents communicators with the task of overcoming the lack of nonverbals (body, posture, tone-of-voice, facial expressions) in communication. When taking a course online, it is important to remember several points of etiquette that will smooth communication between the students and their instructors.

1. Avoid language that may come across as strong or offensive.
Language can be easily misinterpreted in written communication. If a point must be stressed, review the statement to make sure that an outsider reading it would not be offended, then post the statement. Humor and sarcasm may easily be misinterpreted as well, so try to be as matter-of-fact and professional as possible.

2. Keep writing to a point and stay on topic.
Online courses require a lot of reading. When writing, keep sentences poignant and brief so that readers do not get lost in wordy paragraphs and miss the point of the statement. Also, do not introduce new topics; it may just confuse the readers.

3. Read first, write later.
It is important to read all posts or comments of students and instructors within the course discussion before personally commenting to prevent repeating commentary or asking questions that have already been answered.

4. Review, review, then send.
There’s no taking back a comment that has already been sent, so it is important to double-check all writing to make sure that it clearly conveys the exact intended message.

5. An online classroom is still a classroom.
Though the courses may be online, appropriate classroom behavior is still mandatory. Respect for fellow classmates and the instructors is as important as ever.

6. The language of the Internet.
Though still a fairly young type of communication, certain aspects of this form of communication are becoming conventional. For example, do not write using all capital letters, because it will appear as shouting. Also, the use of emoticons can be helpful when used to convey nonverbal feelings (example: :-) or :-( ), but avoid overusing them.

7. Consider the privacy of others'.
Ask permission prior to giving out a classmate's email address or other information.

8. If possible, keep attachments small.
If it is necessary to send pictures, change the size to an acceptable 100k.

9. No inappropriate material.
Do not forward virus warnings, chain letters, jokes, etc. to classmates or instructors. The sharing of pornographic material is forbidden.

Assessment

Lesson 3 Discussion

In order to practice the skill of engaging in polite conversation we are going to discuss some subjects that are presumably not for "polite company"! I'm of the opinion that THESE are the very topics we need to really talk about! From the list below select a controversial issue on which you have a strong opinion and post that opinion in the discussion board (make it real...don't fake like your a fanatic, it will be obvious and it sort of ruins the exercise!)

We will all then engage in an active debate about these issues. Look at your fellow students' first posts and then reply to one that really goes against what YOU believe. You can try to convince the person to think otherwise, but you have to do it in a respectful manner! The key here is to practice taking risks and using good communication skills to debate issues that may NEVER get resolved.

Here are the topics:

  • Socialized Healthcare in America
  • Religion
  • Abortion
  • Same-sex marriage
  • Legalization of Marijuana
  • ...or...make up your own!