CYBER LEARNING GURUS
Your distance learning helpmates.
Section 6.2
Widening Your Network
Author: Joshua Espallardo, Cyber Learning Guru Contributor.
Date: August 11, 2020
This module is dedicated to helping online students widen their network. Widening your network is about establishing good relationships with your online classmates and instructors. As someone who is new to being an online student, it's easy to feel alone, but believe me, you’re not! There are people you can still reach out to that are there for you anytime. You just have to communicate with them properly.
Some of the methods you will use to communicate as an online student are e-mail, chatbox, portal messages and social media messages. Almost all of these follow the same rules and guidelines as writing an email for academic purposes. As such, we suggest that you download the file below to know more about email guidelines. The next topic is also related to this one.
Download: E-mail Best Practices.pdf
To widen your network is to know how to communicate with and treat others properly. That being said, there is not much of a difference between the treatment of classmates and professors in distance learning compared to real life, respect still needs to be present.
Don’t think you can get away with bad behavior just because you are behind the screen. Observing proper netiquette (from the word Internet and etiquette combined) can greatly increase your network. For an easy explanation, Netiquette is simply about minding your manners when using technology.
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Here are 10 basic netiquette guidelines an online student like you should know:
Netiquette
1. Avoid typing in all caps - IN MOST SITUATIONS TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS INAPPROPRIATE. Readers perceive this as shouting and will have a hard time taking what you say seriously. If you have vision issues, there are ways to adjust how text displays so you can still see without coming across as angry.
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2. Avoid Sarcasm - Sarcasm is a source of misguided arguments, as it can be incredibly difficult to understand the intent behind a message with such tone. It may come across as off-putting or rude to others. Lean towards polite and direct communication to avoid these issues.
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3. Don’t abuse the chat box - Chat boxes are there for students to share ideas and ask questions related to the lesson. Sometimes, students might use the chat box to ask irrelevant questions or talk about an unrelated topic. The class chat box shouldn’t be used to distract your classmates with off-topic discussions.
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4. Try to avoid asking questions - If you’re confused about an assignment, your first instinct might be to ask a question. Before you ask, try to figure it out on your own. For questions about due dates or policies, refer to your syllabus and course guides or attempt to find the answers using a search engine. If your questions remain unanswered after a bit of effort, bring them up with your instructor.
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5. Observe correct grammar - Always make an effort to use proper punctuation, spelling and grammar. Misspelled words with erratic punctuation frustrates the reader and distracts from the point of your message. On the other hand, be reasonable about others’ grammar mistakes. Being a grammar police isn’t the same as practicing proper netiquette.
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6. Set a respectful tone - Good netiquette is observing a formality in communication, using respectful greetings and signatures, full sentences, as well as using “please” and “thank you” when needed.
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7. Follow instructions - Always follow rules for file assignment submissions, like naming conventions and file formats. Ignoring these instructions is a common example of bad netiquette. Not following instructions also means not paying attention. Always read instructions carefully before submitting.
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8. Come up with a different response - Discussions can move fairly quickly so it’s important to absorb all of the information before crafting your reply. Make sure your reply hasn’t already been said by another person. Building upon a classmate’s thought or attempting to add something new to the conversation instead of a similar response will show your instructor you’ve been paying attention.
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9. Think before you share - What you share in an online classroom is permanent, and what we say privately can easily become public. When it comes to sharing personal information, it is good practice to always be guarded, and share with discretion. Also, do a fact check before sharing information, you won’t want to be spreading false or misleading information.
10. Be kind and professional - Online students may treat someone poorly because of the distance between screens. Always be kind and respectful in your comments—even if you disagree with someone. Avoid name-calling, cursing or expressing deliberately offensive opinions. In group discussions, don’t exclude others or make them feel left out. Lastly, respond to emails promptly.
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Some of these mistakes can happen because of forgetting that an online classroom is still a classroom. “Good netiquette means conducting yourself in an online class with the same respect, politeness and professionalism that you would exhibit in a real-life classroom.” Lynch says.
Some Myths about Distance Learning
For some reason, the following myths have been believed by many. It is not unusual for students new to online education to feel uncertain regarding what lies ahead. So as an online student myself, I’m here to debunk some of these myths.
Myth #1: I am going at it alone
It's easy to think like this or to feel isolation as an online student, but the truth is that you are not alone by any measure. There is literally a robust network of resources in place to support you! Let’s list them down:
1. Instructors/Professors/Faculty-In-Charge - In short, they are your teachers, whose contact information can typically be located in the classroom or other course-related communications such as e-mails. Instructors are familiar with the learning curve experienced by students new to online learning and are often happy to assist so don’t hesitate to reach out to them with questions.
2. Other School Resources - While the specifics will vary by institution, most schools provide secondary sources that may include mentors, tutors, and/or technical support. Take note of this contact information, and use it to your advantage!
3. Students - You, your classmates and other students can provide a solid network of support for each other. Given some circumstances, you can even have more interaction with them than you ever did with your face-to-face classmates. As you become familiar with one another through the communication tools in the classroom, you might even form informal support networks outside of the classroom by sharing contact information such as instant messaging names and e-mail addresses. Such out-of-class communications can provide much-needed support when dealing with deadlines, technical issues, or other school-related stressors.
Myth #2: I won’t have any classmates or friends
This is false, cause you will definitely have classmates and there is always the possibility for them to be your friends. Believe it or not, being an online student can get you both a classmate AND a friend. While you may not be able to get the face-to-face time you get in traditional education, online classes do provide the opportunity to forge the same relationships between students.
Just remember netiquette, reach out through social media or connect offline with classmates who live near you and set up in-person meetups. Talking over coffee, dinner, even study groups! Eventually, you will have your own set of online student friends!
Myth #3: There are no group works, tasks, projects and activities
Again, this is false. One of the ways online classes bring students together is by having them work collaboratively for a group project. Yes, there are many problems that online students like us will face regarding group projects such as being too far apart to meet in person, too busy with other life commitments or having different schedules that won’t allow for remote meetings to happen.
However, instead of seeing these problems as hurdles, we should look at them as challenges! I tell you, once you and your group finish your project despite all the hardships you’ve gone through, it feels so worth it the effort! Besides, you will learn lots of valuable skills in communication and group dynamics that may even be present in your field of choice in the future!
It could get lonely sometimes, but you are not totally alone. If you really want to get through this, then reach out to your networks. For the last tip on widening your network, I encourage befriend your classmates online. Befriending your classmates can really give you the following benefits:
Befriending Classmates Increases Comfort - As an online student, it doesn't really help that you don’t know your classmates and it will really get hard for you if this continues. By befriending your classmates, you will get comfortable with them because you will eventually get to know them on a personal level. This will increase your comfort level overall, knowing that you can easily approach your online classmates for help since they are your friends.
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Befriending Classmates Fills in Gaps - Befriending your online classmates means you always have a set of fallback notes in case you miss something, like for example a recent announcement from the instructor or a scheduled video conference. It also means that you have a responsibility to take good notes when a friend misses something important. Bonus win, win!
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Befriending Classmates Improves Studying - If you don’t understand something when you look back over your readings, it helps to have a friend you can call on. These mini study breaks or full-blown study groups are the underpinnings of an excellent education. By working together, you can combine your understanding and deepen your knowledge.
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Befriending Classmates Provides Support - Distance learning is especially difficult, and you will be needing as much support as you can get. While your family and friends are great sources of encouragement, having friends who are going through the same thing, who understands your situation on the same level, will always make hard times easier to bear.
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In conclusion, befriending classmates (as part of widening your network) can really be beneficial to your education, and it’s really not very hard. All you have to do is reach out to others, participate in class, and offer help to others whenever you can. It’s well worth the time and effort it takes.
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Brooks, A. (2019, January 28). 10 Netiquette Guidelines Online Students Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/netiquette-guidelines-every-online-student-needs-to-know/
Elizabeth Hartney, B. (2020, January 13). 10 Basic Rules of Netiquette or Internet Etiquette. Retrieved August 09, 2020, from https://www.verywellmind.com/ten-rules-of-netiquette-22285
Globokar, J. L. (april 2010). Debunking the Myths of Online Education. In INTRODUCTION TO ONLINE LEARNING. Retrieved August 10, 2020, from https://us.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-assets/34636_book_item_34636.pdf
Lieberman, M. (2018, April 25). Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/04/25/group-projects-online-classes-create-connections-and-challenge
Manhattan Institute. (2017, August 17). How Befriending Classmates Can Benefit Your Education. Retrieved from https://www.manhattaninstitute.edu/blog/how-befriending-classmates-can-benefit-your-education#:~:text=Befriending%20Classmates%20Improves%20Studying,friend%20you%20can%20call%20on.&text=By%20working%20together%2C%20you%20can,understanding%20and%20deepen%20your%20knowledge.
Online, N. C. (2018, August 14). 5 Easy Ways to Connect with Online Classmates. Retrieved August 10, 2020, from https://canada.national.edu/5-easy-ways-to-connect-with-online-classmates/
UTEP Connect. (2017, July). FAQ: Can I make friends and connections in my online classes? Retrieved August 10, 2020, from https://www.utep.edu/extendeduniversity/utepconnect/blog/july-2017/can-I-make-friends-and-connections-in-my-online-classes.html
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