- Online classroom: Zoom
Participants will attend the live lectures, communicate with the instructors by using the chat box, and video chat with classmates by using this platform.
- Pre and post-class communication: You will be sent the access code to an online forum in an email.
Each week, discussion topics will be posted. Participants are required to participate in the online discussion by posting one new thoughtful post of at least 150 words, and at least one follow-up post to another participant’s comments.
Classroom announcements will be also posted on the online forum.
One participant may be nominated as discussion leader each week (established in advance)
Online communication protocols
In this course, you are expected to follow ethical standards for all your electronic communication. Basic netiquette (online etiquette) is described in Albion’s Core Rules of Netiquette
Effective Communication in the Online Classroom
Whether you are new to online classrooms or have a lot of experience, we find that it is helpful to read some guidelines before starting the course. Please feel free to give us feedback on these or suggest others. The purpose of the guidelines is to make a comfortable and collegial environment for all participants.
- Greet and welcome fellow participants and make them feel that they are part of the community and that their opinions and contributions are valuable.
- Use supportive and encouraging language when interacting with others online.
- Keep the topic of the discussion in mind and refrain from expressing personal opinions on matters that might offend or alienate others. It is normally best to avoid the topics of religion and politics (which are not relevant to this class).
- Be open to hearing differences in opinions. Engage in debate positively and from a position of trying to understand people and their experiences in the world.
- Bear in mind that people have different communication styles and come from different cultural backgrounds. Also, be forgiving, we all make mistakes and this is an important part of the learning experience,
- Help to maintain an environment dedicated to learning and free from harassment of any kind. Please report any cases of harassment to the Graduate School administration.
- Provide some context when giving feedback and input and clarify any issues before responding to comments by other participants.
- Give fellow participants, including instructors, the benefit of the doubt and assume that their intentions are well-meaning and positive.
- Be an autonomous learner and seek out information, work collaboratively with others, and ask others for help when needed.
- Feel free to disagree and express your opinion, but do so in a cordial and professional way.