There are several ways to improve personal communication in different conditions. First, it is useful to have clear and precise goals which you want to achieve with personal communication. Apart from that it is important to be motivated for successful communication because motivated individuals are much better at activating their communication capacities and other potentials. A high level of motivation, with clear and precise goals, should then be directed at the elaboration of the communication strategy and a detailed planning of certain types of communication . Finally, a certain level of motivation should be maintained over a longer period of time, constantly having in mind the set communication goals, and invest the necessary effort in order to achieve the communication goals in every contact with every group or individual which are important for those goals.
Feedback is important for improvement of the instructor’s personal communication in distance education. It is useful to constantly evaluate the level of personal communication skills, as well as the consequences of personal communication activities. Apart from training in communication skills and working on them personally, observing particularly successful distance education instructors is also recommended, as well as personal application of appropriate principles and techniques which proved as successful in such “role models”.
Communicativeness of a lecturer, instructor, trainer and mentor is particularly important in e-education, because of numerous obstacles in communication channels conditioned by imperfections and shortcomings of computers and the Internet as the communication channel. Only with appropriate knowledge, skills and motivation will it be possible to have successful communication with the participants in complex LMS systems, and related to complex educational demands and methods of work which the participants have to overcome.
Tips & tricks: imagine that you are a participant of your own online course. How would you like your instructor to communicate with you and other participants? Which skills and communication techniques or types would you recommend? Do a survey among your online participants about their desires and expectations, having your communication as an instructor in mind! Research the literature and make a list of communicational skills, principles and activities which you could adopt and apply to improve your personal communication in online education!
