Communication

One of your first questions may be to see if others speak your language. If you find they speak English like you, you may still be listening for differences in dialect. Finding others who speak the same language not only means you will be able to understand each other but finding the same dialect and colloquium brings a feeling of closeness that says we fit together. As a faculty member you may speak the same language as your students but you may have a larger vocabulary and know many subtle differences in the language of the course that your students do not share. There are many aspects of communication that cannot be taken for granted.

Vocabulary

The first consideration should be of terms and certain language expressions that are unique to the course. This could include terms like "blog" that are new and that students may have never before heard . The second level involves words like "Reliability" or "Validity", which are part of common vocabulary but may not carry the specific meaning for the student that is required for he content area of the course.

Directions

Careful attention should be paid to the language used in giving directions online. Always be consistent in the use of terms. If the tab on the left says "evaluation", do not use "
assessment". Each step of directions need to be thought out anticipating how the student may interpret the message. It is always better to over explain.

Communication with a Goal of Communication

One of the given goals of all online courses is to increase or maximize communication. Remember to communicate in such a way that invites students to think and respond while showing you have heard them. It is better to respond with further questioning about what, how, when, and where than to be to quick to respond with an answer that will stop the discussion or discovery process.