When working in an online environment, communication happens primarily via text. We mentioned in the last topic that there aren't clues for people such as body language and style to help us get to know each other. There also aren't sounds, which means that it can sometimes be hard to interpret how a person means what they wrote. As Collinson et al. wrote:

Text communication can be easier to misunderstand because the author isn't augmenting words with facial expressions. When a person makes a joke face to face, visual cues are a part of the communication. Conversely, while you might be smiling as you're writing an email, the stripped-down words of your text-based communication - which seem humorous enough as you write - may not be received with the same tone, unless you add an emoticon or some extra wording that compensates from the lack of visuals at delivery. (124)

So in communicating in online forums, we need to be careful about the tone we are using and think about it before posting.

Similarly, there is a long tradition of talking about "voice" in writing. This means the style of writing where we know it is one individual writer writing those words. A text written by Dan Brown would look different than one written by Milan Kundera, even if they are writing about the same things.

In teaching in general, we often have to adapt  a certain kind of voice that might not be our own. We have to know when it is time to make a joke, and when it is time to be strict, and so on, choosing how to say something based on what we think will be most effective. Collinson et al. pointed out that, in face-to-face classes, "for a talented facilitator, this work is subconscious - or, as we more commonly say, it just 'comes naturally.' In an asychonronous text-based environment, on the other hand, the ... voice must be more deliberate, especially at first" (105). When we can read visual and other clues in a classroom, we can react naturally. We all we have is text, we have to think hard about the choices that we are making to make sure they are appropriate.

The concepts of voice and tone are interrelated and important when thinking about communicating with text. So your task for this week is to try to come up with a forum topic where you will communicate in a different voice than you usually do. So if you are usually very business-like, then this week you could try to be more joking. If you are usually relaxed and informal, then this week you could try to be more formal and distant. You can make whatever choice you want, just as long as you are trying to use a different style than usual. The focus this week will be on writing the initial post and further replies in that style.

References

Collinson, G., Elbaum, B, Haavind, S., & Tinker, R. (2000). Facilitating online learning: Effective strategies for moderators. Madison, WI: Atwood Publishing.

 

So your tasks for the week:

• Decide on a voice that is different from the way you normally write.
• Come up with an idea for a thread you can lead in that voice
• Post the ideas for the voice and the thread in the Voice thread linked below by Saturday (1 point)
• Post it in your discussion group by Sunday (1 point)
• Moderate responses to that thread in that voice (2 points)

Note that this week you don't need to moderate the other threads - just concentrate on this new voice for this week.

There is also the forum for reflections. (You can gain 2 points for an initial post and further two possible points for responses to others).