Communicate 2.1.2 – Communication Guidelines Quest

• Welcome email (generic for all courses)

Hello and welcome to _____________.  I am pleased to be your instructor and hope to transfer my 20 years of teaching ELA to you in _____________.   Please feel free to explore the course, and be sure to look at the syllabus and due dates, but at this point don't get overwhelmed.  I have found that with online education, if the student and instructor work together and one assignment at a time, both can have success.  

Sincerely,

{Insert name here} 

• Personal notes versus mass communication to stakeholders (appropriate times)

In order to ensure that all students receive a quality online education, sometimes the instructor will need to compose specific communications directed at specific individuals.  Although these might be viewed by a larger audience, it is the instructor's responsibility to ensure that these communications are directed at the individual.  

However, there are certain guidelines that should be followed with individual communication.  The following should be cautiously included, or left out unless permission is granted: 

1. Grades or other academic records
2. Negative language 
3. Personal Information
4. Irrelevant Information 
5. Anything else that seems to potentially violate the student's confidentiality. 

Remember if in doubt, leave the information out and request a phone call instead. 

• Stakeholders

Stakeholders that are included with this course include, but are not limited to, students, parents, evaluators, administrators, and anyone else seeking permission to view the course. 

 

• School Policies regarding Communication

All communication in this course is considered permanent, and will become part of the course with this in mind, please adhere to the following _____________________ district rules for communication. 

1. All communication should be professional.
2. All communication should be inclusive.  
3. All communication should be constructive or positive; even criticism can be constructive. 
4. All communication should avoid derogatory language of any kind, including but not limited to language that can be considered rude, vulgar, racist, sexist, or discriminatory in any fashion. 
5. All communication might be seen by anyone; always think before you post. 

• Tools available for effective Communication

With the online course room, the most effective tools for communication are the ones that are built into the system.  Often the ones with more pubic access are also preferred.  For example, discussion threads can be a valuable way to communicate and are open to review.  Or consider that dropboxes can be another valuable way to convey feedback.  Finally, use only professional access points, rather than personal ones.  For example, the course email is always preferred to personal ones.  As for social media, perhaps just forget it.