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It's been observed that when learners feel a sense of anonymity, sometimes their comments are just awkward, and at worst can be very unwelcomed. In the article "Virtual Harassment", by Ferganchick-Neufang (1998) the challenges of online educators are explored with some possible solutions.
So, how do you enforce the limits of socially acceptable behavior to prevent students from offending you and others in chat rooms, or on Facebook, and other sites? Additionally, if you had a Blackboard site (with a discussion board) and a student started posting complaints against you, what actions would you take?
It’s hard to predict what students can say to offend others and on the other hand, be offended. A general rule would be to set out standards at the very beginning of the class and encourage students to participate in discussion. While explaining what you as the teacher would like to see and expect from them (for example when leaving comments on discussion boards they have to be mindful of the words they choose to use), the teacher can come up with a discussion for the students to talk about. Separate them in groups and come up with what behaviors are not acceptable, how to solve it and how to react when non acceptable behaviors occurred. When students have come to an agreement, it will be more likely for them to follow the rules and behave well. If students post complaints against me, I would use some class time to discuss what can be improved in class, or as an instructor what can I work on. If students feel awkward sharing or giving negative comments directly, then paper and pencil style class evaluation would be used.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you @Angie. If you set the standards right from the beginning, then you shouldn't have a problem. Especially if you include the students in the decision making/rule making process. Students are more likely to follow rules that they've come up with.
ReplyDeleteI've taken many blended courses(face-to-face and online) here at UTSA, and I've only had one professor actually outline proper "netiquette" (network etiquette). Similar to what you said @ Angie, she had us discuss in groups what we thought was proper netiquette on our discussion boards looked like. I'd have to say that because we did that, we never had a problem. Unfortunately that isn't the case for some of the other courses I've taken. You'd think that we are all adults and can follow rules in a learning environment, but people still don't seem to understand how to be respectful. Sometimes certain topics can get quite controversial and people can get easily offended. In this case, I think it's the instructors job to step in a moderate the discussion. If you need to go over the rules again, even in the middle of a course, then do it. Also, if the instructor has a strong presence in the discussion boards, then I think students would also be more likely to follow socially acceptable behavior.
Here are some helpful links that I've used in the past in regards to "netiquette"...
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dRoclqDJh0
The article @Sharon provided points out a few tools to use to prevent harassment in a virtual setting. Thank you @Sharon for sharing this article because sometimes I tend to overlook the risks that the Internet may bring. With all the benefits virtual instruction can bring there is a chance that teachers or students could be harassed. As a teacher what would you do if a student was disrespecting you in a chat room? It is a hard question to answer, but as a teacher you must consider every situation.
ReplyDeleteThe article lends some suggestions for dealing with such issues. As an instructor make sure that the students do not have complete anonymity, if so there is more likely a chance for student and teacher harassment. Once you give a face to a name and assign some reliability, the students understand that they have a responsibility. As a teacher set rules and guidelines so that there are no questions about what is considered appropriate. Since the virtual world is in a masculine field, make sure that you are well prepared and confident for every class meeting.
In conclusion, know that harassment occurs and you should have a plan in case you are one day put into that situation. No your boundaries and don't let anyone else tell you different. If it doesn't feel right then it isn't.
@Sharon - Thanks for the article. It's a very real and interesting examination about women in higher education, especially since many of us deal with international communities that have differing opinions about women in authority positions. You also raise an interesting point about student rants (about the teacher) posted in a forum such as Blackboard. It makes me wonder about the treatment female teachers might receive versus their male peers. The ranting student should definitely be spoken to personally and this incident should be reported to the higher ups. That way, any future misconduct can be grounds for removing the student from the school.
ReplyDeleteSet the rules, enforce the rules.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone so far. From the onset, set the rules and standards and have students talk about them to know and understand them. What it comes down to is respect for every person. The teacher needs to exemplify this and also praise and create teaching moments out of it when she/he can. It's also important that we enforce and follow through with these rules. In Ferganchick-Neufang (1998), teachers in traditional classrooms only made their problems of harassment worse by not reporting them. Teachers can also find support from each other. What I mean by this is that fellow male teachers (not to preach to the choir), and even though (sexual) harassment may not be an issue they automatically think of when it comes to work, can also talk about harassment and address it explicitly in their classrooms. One real life example: Dr. Wright teachers the SIOP class I am in and I find it great that he keeps a section in his syllabus, which he goes over with the entire class at the beginning of the course, that explicitly sets the standard for proper classroom behavior and respecting of each other's opinions and how anything otherwise he will not tolerate in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, it really does help to involve every member in making the rules to prevent disrespectfulness while using online chats. The teacher can initiate a “contract” by posting a rule such as “no name calling” and then each member can add a rule. At any time members will have access to viewing the rules. It is also true that everything must be set clear and straight from the beginning along with consequences for breaking the rules. Depending on the age, rules can be modified as necessary, but the bottom line is that everyone should agree to follow the rules from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if a student is having difficulties with me and posting negative comments on Blackboard, I would email all students informing them to address any concerns either by email, written suggestions, or to arrange to meet with me before/after class. As a teacher, I always try to reassure the students that I am there to assist them in any way possible. I strongly encourage communication in any way they feel comfortable addressing concerns. I also document anything that I feel might need further attention.
Every person is different therefore different approaches must be used to deal with miscommunication/disagreements.
Everything I've read on this seems to indicate that setting some ground rules up front, perhaps with some student involvement, is key. I think this is the case in any class..virtual or otherwise. Expectations are set at the start of year..either overtly or not. Because the online forum is less personal and you can't use nonverbals to quell misbehavior and it's a newer method of communication, I think you need to have more clearly stated expectations for online discussions. I also think that the instructor should know who the student is based on their online names...it should not be completely anonymous. Finally, it seems it's synchronous discussion, it can also be key to keep the number of participants who are interacting at any given time to a minimum. The more students who are nattering away the crazier it can get! Misbehavior and degrading/insulting talk should be dealt with by the instructor immediately...either in person or via a personal e-communication session.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was an interesting article. Its not a new problem, only a newer medium that we need to learn to deal with. Virtual harrassment obviously needs to be dealt with as much as any other kind of harrassment, not ignored. It is not that surprising, (but sad) that the ones being harrassed are often the ones being blamed. Teachers need to be given effective strategies for dealing with student to teacher problems and controlling 'situations' such as the one described. Of course, they also need to have their administrators support in case it goes too far. Setting student generated guidelines, enforcing the consequences, and keeping everyone 'visible' in some way will go a long way towards students' not even thinking about engaging in online behavior gone wild.
ReplyDeleteOh, I like this post! It is time to discuss these things for sure. I am the last in the line for this duscussion and I have got the pleasue to read all opinions posted above. And this reading is rejuvinating! Actually I don't have too much to say in this regard, but to read the artcle and follow up your mindsets, my dear peers. I have had a lot of mental pain then I was running my private blog and I guess I was ruined by them, because I didn't find any idea how to protect myself from that virtual harassment on the privat level. God My Vitness I wanted to share my experience like a positive one!...I don't know yet that direction my american life will take me, but if I would succed in my teaching profession, find the key to ethical structure and develop my vocabulary - I will be very careful with the words, yet I won't have mersy on those who would try to harass. You wanted to see your ugly reflection in the mirror of socual/virtual life? Ok, go, enjoy it! Do you like that you see?.....Did you really wanted it? I guess those, who have the language as a professional tool have to be frontliners in this battle of " Good and Bad".
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