There are things that never change. Things you say and how you say them defines who you are in a traditional classroom, and this is even more so in an online learning environment since all you have to represent you is your words. Although video communication is now easier and more prevalent, words and text will always be predominant since they are so effective if used appropriately in expressing an idea.

All contemporary electronic media, from radio to television, to film, to games, begins with someone sitting down and putting words together by means of writing, which are then translated into various media.

Bear in mind that first impressions are lasting, and as an online degree student most first impressions are made via a chat session, on Facebook, Twitter, or email — so the words you choose are even more significant.

The Online Classroom

You can notice that most tools of an online classroom are used for sharing words.

Live. This is a feature of the online class in online college and is a combination of text chat, video chat, and shared desktops. This permits students to efficiently work together on group assignments, or even just meet for study sessions.

Discussion forums/Message Boards. They are threaded discussions for posting and responding to supported viewpoints. The majority of online institutions use these forums as a way to promote conversation about class topics, which in turn will deepen students’ understanding or at least offer them with an alternative approach to look at a subject. Some instructors use the forum as a means to monitor student class participation, mandating that each online student begin a discussion or contribute to one a set number of times per week.

Email. This is a direct progeny of the handwritten letter and is the most direct mode of contacting a tutor or classmate online.

Doc Sharing and Dropbox. These are in relation to sharing more formal written documents often following style sheets such as MLA or APA. This enables students to turn in their assignments and for professors to return assignments to them accordingly. Some institutions might even permit learners to do peer-editing for essay projects via these tools.

Webliography. This is an adaption by online colleges of the traditional bibliography, nevertheless for the web. It is a space shared by instructors and student for outside resources.

As a college student, you’re expected to reflect and communicate in a particular formal manner. In almost all instances, your classes will have grading rubrics to guide you on how formal your written communication is expected to be. Below is an illustration of instructions that may be given for an assignment along with a rubric that assists calculate your grade and shows the area of strength and weakness.

Write your document and save it as Case_Study_lastname_firstinitial.docx. Follow APA guidelines to write the document and cite any sources. Submit the document to the Dropbox is one of many secure ways to protect your work.

Journal/Blogs. This format crosses formal writing with less formal email. These tools enable learners to post about whatever topic from a class that is on their mind and provides other course mates with a means to comment on their journal or blog posts for further discussion.