Contact Ms. Herberholz
Communication Policy
As we navigate through our class together we will have many opportunities to communicate with one another electronically. This may include, but is not limited to, discussion forums, chat sessions, email, and feedback. To have a successful and positive experience with this course proper communication is going to be the key component. Please review the norms laid out below when you communicate throughout the course:
This course is designed to encourage you to communicate with your peers. Your classmates are excellent resources for gaining understanding of the content, clearing up confusion, and giving feedback about the assignments. In order to encourage this communication I will give you the opportunity to let you help your peers by giving feedback on assignments before the final product is due. When giving feedback please remember the following:
Throughout this course you will also be communicating with your teacher and your teacher will be communicating with you. This line of communication is very important. Before you send out a communication make sure you check out the guidelines below.
- Presume Positive Intentions: it is important to think that your teacher and your peers are communicating with a purpose that is positive. Do your best to interpret communication positively.
- Use Appropriate Language: this is an academic course and you need to communicate accordingly. Use complete thoughts and sentences. Also, do your best to use vocabulary that is appropriate for the setting. You should not be using text shorthand.
- Think Before You Speak: when communicating in this course you should imagine you are talking to the individual in person. If you would not say what you have typed to him/her in person you should not be sending it electronically. (This applies to all forms of electronic communication.)
- Read It Again: make sure you proofread what you have written. In some instances you may want to have another person read what you write before you hit post or send.
This course is designed to encourage you to communicate with your peers. Your classmates are excellent resources for gaining understanding of the content, clearing up confusion, and giving feedback about the assignments. In order to encourage this communication I will give you the opportunity to let you help your peers by giving feedback on assignments before the final product is due. When giving feedback please remember the following:
- Sometimes when a person is receiving feedback they may be sensitive. Feedback often feels like someone is judging your work. Remember to communicate your thoughts with positivity. Point out the good things they did in the assignment.
- When you think your classmate needs to make changes, help them with the solution. You can suggest possible changes or ways to make it better.
- Offer your classmate the chance to clarify any of the feedback comments and be willing to explain your thoughts.
- Make sure that you are referring back to the assigned rubric to ensure you are helping your classmate in each of the required components. This will also help you focus your feedback.
- Be respectful of your classmates time. Your peer needs time to review your feedback and make changes before submitting the assignment.
Throughout this course you will also be communicating with your teacher and your teacher will be communicating with you. This line of communication is very important. Before you send out a communication make sure you check out the guidelines below.
- Identify yourself in the communication. If you are using the contact page on the class website make sure you fill out all of the boxes, including first and last name. If you are emailing me directly make sure you put your name in the subject box.
- Make sure you clearly express why you are contacting me. If you have a concern or a problem, it should be explained with the necessary detail. If you have a question make sure that question is very clear and concise. You may need to ask more than one question to achieve this.
- If I ask you a question please respond within 24 hours.
- If you have a question about an assignment make sure you ask it at least 24 hours before the deadline.
- In the discussion forums if I respond to your post with a question you must respond the question within 48 hours.
- I will respond to your email within 24 hours.
- I will do my best to help you resolve any problems that may arise.
- I will post your grades every other Monday.
- I will provide you with feedback from your assignments within 7-10 days.
- I will notify you if you received a grade below a 70 percent and you will have the opportunity to redo the assignment.