This document discusses the importance of communication for online learning success. It provides advantages and disadvantages of online learning, highlighting that communication can help address disadvantages like isolation. Good communication includes interaction between students and instructors, as well as clear understanding of course requirements. Several scenarios demonstrate how instructors and students can foster communication through timely feedback, icebreakers, monitoring discussions, and building rapport. Overall, the document emphasizes that communication is key for online students to feel engaged and take responsibility for their own learning.

1. Communication is the Key to Success
Being an Effective Online
Learner

2. Advantages
of Online Learning
More and more people are choosing to participate in an online
learning classroom instead of the traditional face-to-face
classroom. There are many advantages to online learning:
Class work can be scheduled around work and family
Reduces travel time and travel costs
Anytime/Anywhere learning
Fosters more interaction among students and instructors than
in large lecture courses

3. Disadvantages
of Online Learning
Learners with low motivation or bad study habits
may fall behind
Students may get lost or confused about course
activities and deadlines
Students may feel isolated from the instructor and
classmates
Instructors many not always be available when
students are studying or need help

4. Good communication = a
successful learner
“Failing to establish and maintain communication with
professors and fellow classmates typically lead to failure. In
online learning, establishing and maintaining meaningful
relationships with classmates facilitates the exchange of ideas
and opinions. This communication also develops a better
understanding of course and program materials. Keeping open
communication with a course professor is critical for
understanding requirements and clearing up any assignment
confusions.”
This quote is from D. Wetzel (2009). 5 Common Mistakes in
distance Education. Retrieved from May 15, 2012
http://www.suite101.com/content/5-common-distance-education-
mistakes-a94604

5. Are you ready to be an
online learner?
Students need to make sure that they are
ready for the online course. To be successful
in an online class it is important that students
are highly motivated to learn, have good
organizational skills, and are willing to
communicate with others.

6. Scenarios for Successful
Communication
Scenario 1: In order to have a successful online community
communication must go both ways. Students must be responsible
and timely in their coursework and they must communicate with
the instructor as well as their classmates. Teachers are also an
important part of the success of that communication, they need to
“show up and teach”. Students in an online class rely on the
instructor to follow the established course schedule and deliver the
course within the scheduled time frame. Instructors can create a
mutually successful online environment by posting grades in a
timely manner and offering feedback on assignments. Students will
feel that the instructor is interested in what they have to say and
that motivates them to communicate and be a responsible
contributor to the online community.

7. Communication- Scenario 2
Online courses should always begin with icebreaker
or teambuilding activities that are designed for
learners and teachers to get to know each other.
Instructors can offer creative ways for students to
introduce themselves to the instructor and the rest
of the class via an online discussion board. Make sure
that students are also required to comment on other
students’ posts so that the relationships can become
deeper and more learning can occur.

8. Communication- Scenario 3
When instructors practice proactive course management
strategies such as monitoring assignment submission,
communicating, and reminding students of missed and/or
upcoming deadlines students feel more connected to the
online learning community. Having no guidance from the
instructor may lead to frustrated students. It is also each
students responsibility to communicate with the
instructor and other students by asking questions, sharing
information, and being proactive in their own learning.

9. Communication is
everyone’s
Responsibility
Murphy and Rodriques-Manzanares identified six
categories of rapport building in distance education:
1. Recognizing the person/individual
2. Supporting and monitoring
3. Availability, accessibility, and responsiveness
4. Non text-based interactions
5. Tone of interactions
6. Non-academic conversations/interaction

10. Reflection
A successful online learning community can be built if that
community is based on open communication that includes
teacher to student, student to student, and group interactions.
Students must be made aware of all the people that are
included in this learning environment. Online students must be
self motivated and committed to being a proactive, engaged,
and contributing part of the online learning community. Online
students need to take responsibility for their learning and they
must keep communication with their instructors and fellow
classmates at the forefront of their “to do” list. Communication
is the key to success and keeping that communication going
both ways will help students as well as instructors take
ownership of the learning environment.

11. References
http://elearnmag.acm.org/archive.cfm?aid=2093589
http://www.suite101.com/content/5-common-
distance-education-mistakes-a94604
http://www.eou.edu/~bb/workshops/10%20Principles%
20of%20Effective%20Online%20Teaching.pdf
http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/10
57/2076