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Using Tone to Increase Interaction

Why?

• A supportive and inviting tone conveys accessibility to students. Students want to know that they can contact the instructor and expect a response from the instructor.
• A supportive tone is perceived by students as concern for their success.
• One of the frequent complaints from students is that instructors are absent or unresponsive in online courses. Carefully establishing a positive and supportive tone throughout communications may reduce these complaints.
• Use of intentional techniques and language can reduce the psychological distance between instructor and students.

Implications for Teaching and Learning.

• Interaction has been identified as a key component of successful online courses. Using language to intentionally set expectations and boundaries clarifies how the student should perform in the course.
• Using language in intentional ways is the only way instructors can communicate their passion for their field.
• Establishing a positive tone has implications for instructional techniques and activities.

Promising Practices for TWU.

• Think about every written word and try to read what you have written from the perspective of the student.
• Use your Welcome message to clearly establish tone for the course.
• Require student introductions to rapidily generate some discussion in the course.
• Personalize as many individual messages to students as possible. This is relatively easy to do and is perceived by student as personal concern for their success in the course.

How?

There are multiple locations in any online course where the written word is the primary means of communication. Since online communication lacks the nonverbal cues of face-to-face communication, care should be taken to shape written language to convey a deliberate tone. Student contact with instructors appears to be an important factor in student motivation and persistence. The tone an instructor establishes in the course impacts how the course (and the instructor) is perceived by students. 

Links for More Ideas. Note: This may take you to another section in this set of resources or to other TWU resources created by Instructional Support Services.

Staff Information The Staff Information area can be used for more than posting your office hours. Click here for how to set up this areas and ideas for using it to establish tone and presence in your course.

Announcements A conduit for information, tone, feedback, and direction. Learn more about setting up this area in the tools section of the wiki.

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