I is for Insight

Some letters of the alphabet are far easier than others...insight, integrity, influence, involvement, inevitable. Let's look at the importance of insight when dealing with learners, whether virtual or on-the-ground.

Insightful conversations with students and colleagues are critical. People want to be heard and just listening can accomplish a great deal. Although the phone isn't most people's first communication choice anymore, nothing will ever replace the sound of a sympathetic voice whether delivered via cell phone, webinar, or Skype. If your presence is "too virtual" and you don't appear real to the stakeholders, learning and productivity will diminish. You start with how you fashion and post your personal introduction to students, and continue letting "you" shine in every interaction.

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Insight is important when it comes to really knowing your students' capabilities. Just because the world assumes students know exactly what they are doing with all technology, I don't make that assumption and you shouldn't either. While the under-thirty age group is less afraid to experiment and has grown up with technology, using technology properly is fundamental, not secondary, in promoting its use for education. Additionally, we know all educators are not on board with integrating technology into curriculum pursuits, whether in a blended model or fully online, and teachers who are have a responsibility to help fellow educators be successful. We can not assume those around us, whether students or teachers, have all the tools they need to learn via computer. Improvements happen so fast in the online world, I often hear "I did not know that!" several times a day.

Impression is another word that comes to mind. First impressions linger and it is hard to change them. This is why the tone and voice in your emails, right from the beginning, are so vital. We have all received emails where we made an assumption about the sender after we read the first sentence.

I had one adult who always wrote very terse sentences and used all capital letters. I couldn't figure out what I had done to make her angry, and it wasn't until I called her and asked that I learned she was visually impaired and the best way to see what was on the screen was to write in all caps. I breathed a sigh of relief, shared with her my unfounded fears, and cleared the way for an ongoing relationship. I encouraged her to share her impairment with her instructors so they knew she wasn't angry, giving them the opportunity to offer more assistance as needed. (I made a mental note to not always assume every email writer knows all caps equal shouting.) It is a plus educators are moving to greater use of podcasts, audios, and videos in classroom settings, as these more clearly deliver the personal touch teachers need to offer.

Reflection: Make the time and take personal responsibility to be introspective about your own perspective! Assumptions are not your friend in the virtual world. Reach out and clarify to gain insight!