Methods of communication
Effective communication is paramount for setting clear expectations. When educators clearly communicate course requirements, deadlines, and evaluation criteria, students gain a solid understanding of what is expected of them. Armed with this knowledge, students can better manage their time, plan their studies, and successfully meet the objectives of the course. Setting expectations through open and transparent communication empowers students to take ownership of their learning and excel academically.
Establish a communication plan
The first part of communicating with students is to create a communications plan that determines how you want to communicate with them. You should:
- Make a plan to manage your own communication and communicate relevant parts of that plan to your students.
- Plan and communicate to students how quickly you will respond to emails or other communications from them. If your students know that you will respond within 24-36 hours, it is less likely you will receive repeat emails. Make this timeline realistic for your workload.
- Make a plan with your TAs. Let them know how frequently you will communicate with students and through which channels. Consider how TAs might be part of the communication cycle with students, in alignment with their responsibilities. Clear communication with TAs helps them understand your goals for the class and ultimately supports student learning.
In-person and online communication
As part of your communication plan consider the method of your communication. In-person and online communication are two distinct approaches to engaging with students, each offering unique advantages and facilitating different forms of interaction and learning.
In-person communication allows for direct and immediate interactions between educators and students, fostering a sense of connection and engagement. Non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and body language enhance understanding and promote effective communication. By creating a welcoming environment, you are fostering active participation and promoting a sense of community within the classroom.
Various online communication methods offer flexibility and convenience in engaging with students in virtual learning environments.
Recorded short videos or audio recordings can deliver presentations and explanations, accommodating different preferences. Moodle announcements, forums, and chat/email within Moodle provide avenues for asynchronous and real-time interactions, promoting collaboration, addressing questions, and sharing course-related information.
Additionally, platforms like Microsoft Teams offer chat and group features for effective group communication and virtual meetings. Leveraging these online communication tools allows educators to maintain engagement, facilitate discussions, and provide support in the digital learning space.
Setting expectations
Once you have planned out your communications, share the expectations with students so they know what to expect and how to communicate during the semester. You should:
- Tell students how often they can expect to hear from you with information about the course (e.g., daily, weekly, etc.). A consistent communication schedule that students can rely on will provide some needed structure and help set expectations.
- Explain to students which channels you will use to communicate with them. Explore the different communication tools available and make strategic choices about which you will use (e.g., Moodle Announcements, Forums, etc.).
Expectations have a strong impact on students’ affective engagement, leading them to feel positive about the learning experience (Bowden, Tickle & Naumann, 2021).
The need for student engagement extends beyond learning design and encompasses the establishment of meaningful connections with others, highlighting the crucial role of communication.
Educators have emphasised the significance of crafting online content in a manner that fosters seamless student-to-student and student-to-teacher connections, thereby promoting increased interaction, collaboration, and communication (Stone, 2019).