Communication 2.1.1 Identify Stakeholders

Because virtual teachers are not in front of their students every single day, they must be especially diligent in maintaining effective communication with all stakeholders.  More importantly, online instructors must make themselves available to students and parents.

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To assist students in becoming autonomous stakeholders and effective communicators in an online course, teachers must employ a professional tone that encourages open and continuous dialogue.  In other words, virtual instructors should model appropriate communication skills for their students to imitate and apply themselves.  This correlates into consistent, professional, and open communication.

A virtual teacher must also work and communicate closely with parents to provide the support necessary for student success in the e-learning setting.  I especially appreciate the notion that parents should serve as a "coach" to help their children navigate the virtual classroom.  By working together as a support team- parents as coaches and teachers as models- virtual students will have the solid foundation necessary to succeed.

In all, virtual teachers must implement an effective plan to communicate with stakeholders.  This plan must contain a number of strategies and modes of communication.  In my next few posts, I will continue to explore the role of communication in the virtual classroom.