Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime

8.8. PUBLISH A GUIDE FOR MESSAGE WRITERS

Most effective collaboration systems center on the exchange of simple text messages through e-mail or discussion groups. Even when audioconferencing and videoconferencing are available, many learners still prefer the simplicity, convenience, and record keeping of text messages.

However, not all learners know how to craft effective messages and how to manage their message-sending activities well. You may want to monitor how well learners send messages. If problems arise, recommend specific training. Or provide instructions yourself.

The following extended example is a guide to messaging. It is written to learners but applies to instructors as well.

Guide to writing, sending, and managing messages To learn effectively in this course, you will need to collaborate with fellow learners and with your instructor. Your primary means of collaboration will be through discussion-group postings and e-mail messages. These tools are a means of your learning, not its end. You should spend as much time as possible thinking about the content of messages and as little time as possible dealing with the mechanics of typing, finding, filing, and deleting messages. This guide offers tips and guidelines on how to use messages efficiently. Follow the policy on collaboration When you signed up for this course, you agreed to follow the Policy on collaboration. It specifies acceptable and unacceptable practices and behaviors. Please review the policy. It is designed ...