Enhance your net work
A netiquette guide to making online
classes engaging and fruitful.
By : Arunabh Singh | New Delhi May 2, 2020
COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown have
changed our lives in unexpected ways. Schoolchildren who a few months ago were
negotiating with parents for some extra screen time, often with limited
success, now find themselves attending online classes and study sessions for
hours every day. Juggling multiple challenges, teachers are using such online
sessions to create an environment of learning across varied student age groups,
under the watchful eyes of their parents. The success of these sessions depends
a lot on observing netiquette, simply put the rules of acceptable behaviour on
the Internet. Here are a few tips for students and teachers to begin with.
Be presentable
You may be home, but remember that your
teacher and fellow mates can watch you during the online session. So be
presentable and sit in a well-lit room. Once you have settled down, avoid
shifting positions as this might distract others.
Join before the scheduled start
It’s a good practice to open the session
at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start. Teachers can use this as
warm-up time, going through the topics of discussion and their study plan.
Students can use the time to get their study material and other things in place
and settle down.
Do a system check
Before logging in, make it a habit to
check that your video and audio equipment are in top working condition. Be sure
about using the correct network if you have multiple ones at home. You wouldn’t
want tech troubles to interrupt your interactions during the session, right?
Wear a smile
Be courteous and greet others. Your
smiling face will have a calming effect on others and help create a friendly
environment. Remember to thank everyone before logging out.
Avoid cross-talk
Use the unmute button judiciously. Raise
your hand if you want to answer or put across a point and speak only when the
teacher gives a go-ahead. This will avoid multiple people speaking
simultaneously and ensure discipline.
Speak slowly,
Clearly It is important to speak slowly,
at an acceptable voice level, and use clear and precise words to convey
yourself. Be conscious never to raise your voice or gesture with your fingers.
Mind your language
The use of obscene language is a strict
no-no. Behave in a manner you would want others to with you. While writing
anything during the session, do not use all caps as it symbolises a shout.
Keep out needless humour and sarcasm
Both humour and sarcasm, if not understood
well, can create unnecessary tension among participants. It is advisable to
park aside the lighter notes for face-to-face interactions.
Be credible with your message
Do not try to mislead while responding to
a question. It’s human not to know everything, so say you will check and get
back with the answer. Grab the first opportunity to acknowledge a mistake and
take it as learning.
Respect diversity
Just as in face-to-face interactions, it
is extremely important to recognise and respect diversity of thought,
experience and background among participants. n
The writer is director of Nehru World
School, Ghaziabad
Source : https://www.indiatoday.in
No comments:
Post a Comment