Communications

Throughout your course, you will be interacting with your peers and your instructors. WorldClassRoom provides the use of communication tools that support an interactive online learning environment. The Communication tools enable positive interaction between you and your instructors, you and your classmates, and you and the course content. The continuous interactions you have in your course will enhance your learning experience through tools such as the Discussions, Mail, Announcements, and Chat. As you communicate with your instructors and peers from around the world you impact your learning and help build networks and build valuable relationships.

Discussions, Mail, Announcements, and Chat

The Discussions, Mail, Announcements, and Chat are designed to enhance your learning experience. While the discussions are ideal for open communication the mail tool allows for more private communication. Your instructor may occassionally use the Announcements tool to provide information to you that is not contained in the course already. You do not need to reply to the announcement - just make sure you read it and follow the instructions. The majority of interactions in your online course will take place using discussions where the reader and writer do not have to be online at the same time to communicate. This type of communication is called asynchronous communication. In addition to discussions you will be able to communicate using mail and chat. The Chat tools provide a way to communicate synchronously, or at the same time. Depending on your instructor, the Chat tool may not be available. These highly interactive discussions enable you, as a member of the online learning community, to share your thoughts, ideas, and knowledge on course content and other relevant topics.

The tutorials below in the box will help you read and send mail. In addition, you will learn more about the discussion types and how to post discussion messages in your WorldClassRoom course.

Tutorials

Step by Step

Right Click and Save these files for reference:

• Mail (PDF)
• Discussions (PDF)

These tutorials will provide you with step by step directions on effectively using discussions and mail in your course.

Tips for Success

• When communicating in your online course, it is important to practice nettiquette. Give the same amount of respect to classmates and the instructor that you would if you were communicating face to face.
• If your reply will be more than a couple of sentences or if you normally take a significant amount of time to compose your answer, consider typing your answer in a word processing document and then pasting it into the Message box when completed. The system will time you out after about 20 minutes if it does not detect any activity. It does not count typing in a text box as activity.
• The email within WorldClassRoom operates in a closed environment. This means that email sent to other users can only be checked and replied to from within WorldClassRoom. You do have the option to forward a copy of any email sent to you within the system to your Webster University email account.