Netiquette in Remote Learning: Win or Loss?
On March 13, 2020, my students and I spent the last few minutes of the day sanitizing, packing, and tidying up our classroom, as was our usual practice. What was unusual was that we were scared and the immediate future was uncertain. Schools across the country were being shut down and it had been all over the media that the deadly Corona Virus was spreading rapidly. On Monday March 16, 2020 it was confirmed. Schools were closed and remote learning would begin.
Do you remember how you felt?
Remote learning brought many challenges, not least of which was the fact that teachers and students had to learn quickly to use virtual meeting tools and navigate those tools in a way that promoted teaching and learning.
What
were some of the challenges you faced with remote learning?
The first challenge was, figuring
out how to behave in a remote environment. Do we dress for work or is it ok to
go on in our pajamas with a doo rag on our heads? How do we prepare a space for
remote learning in our homes? What expectations should we have of our students?
How relaxed should we be with our expectations? A good rule of thumb is to
begin with etiquette. A popular Jamaican saying, “Good manners will take you a
far way” is my daily mantra. Approaching the new situation with good manners
and respect, is a great place to start.
Netiquette is a code of acceptable conduct and behavior in virtual spaces (Educational Technology and Mobile Learning, 2014). This code is determined by social norms and conventions for acceptable behavior whose underlying tenet is respect for all. In other words, respect is due! As educators in a remote environment. It is important for us to model and teach these acceptable behaviors to our students.
How can you
model good netiquette for your student?
Here are a few suggestions:
- -
Create a professional environment and
dress for work.
- -
Create a short list of expected positive
behaviors and expectations.
- -
Model the behaviors listed.
- -
Discuss and redirect consistently.
So, what do you think? Was it a win or loss?
Reference
Educational
Technology and Mobile Learning. (2014).
I think it was perhaps a win for those teachers and students who were already utilizing the various existing remote learning platforms and the like. They would have the advantage of seemlessly picking up from where they left off when covid-19 struck. However for those teachers and students who were new to this type or mode of learning, 'valuable' instruction time may have been 'lost' trying to navigate through the unchartered waters of the remote learning world. A big positive or win for these teachers would be the invaluable technological lessons learned, the practice and the knowledge gained from this experience.
ReplyDeleteI think with regards to netiquette specifically it's a win. By now reflective teachers would be abreast with the eventualities that may arise in remote learning, what works and what doesn't and how to minimize on students' ocassional bad netiquette. Additionally a great leader leads by example.
ReplyDeleteJust by sharing and asking pertinent questions, this is definately a win. In these uncertain times this method of learning from each other is important as we all try to navigate truly uncharted territory.
ReplyDelete