Communication and collaboration
Communication is key in any educational context, however when delivering education using an approach which is fully online or which includes an element of online delivery, it takes on a higher level of importance.
Whilst bringing the obvious benefit of delivery anytime, anyplace and providing access to education to those who previously would have been unable to access it due to geography or personal/work commitments, online delivery, nonetheless also has some disadvantages that need to be overcome. The lack of physical connection in time and space can lead to feelings of isolation and the reliance on technology can induce levels of stress, delay and provide conditions for being less participatory.
To mitigate some of the challenges associated with online communication it is essential that you set expectations on how you want your students to communicate. The best way to do this is to lead by example. A netiquette guide provides an excellent starting point.
Example – University of Texas
The University of Texas at Austin provide a useful table showing the differences between face to face and online delivery.
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