eTutoring

Our messages, oral and written, are sent to, and received by the audience with emotional content. Written messages are evaluated subjectively depending on the recipient's personal experience and values.  Written communication is very common in online learning. However, this type of communication is subject to channel reduction: no intonation, pitch of the voice, facial expression, gestures, eye contact, etc. This makes it difficult to assess the feeling and mood of the sender or recipient accurately. Hence, misunderstanding may easily arise in online learning. Misunderstanding in online learning may be avoided by applying the following strategies before clicking the send button:

• Read the message from the recipient point of view prior to hitting the send button.
• Is the message tone supporting? Think about the reaction of the recipient of the message and if the message motivates them to keep learning or to give up.
• Ask yourself: "would I like to receive a message like this?"
• Think about the emotional connotation of your message: is it a praise? Is it a criticism? Is it motivating?...
• How will the message increase your relationship with the group.

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