There are several ways to interact with your peer learners, your instructor, your technical assistant, your advisor and others. Below we list your options with tips on how and when to use them best.

Email

Email is especially useful for the following purposes:

• Ask for help. Approach your instructor directly with questions concerning content and assignments when answers cannot be found in iCampus.
  
• Attach files. If you want to share digital files such as pictures or documents switch others, attach them in an email message. Keep in mind that you need to ensure that the other person can receive the size and application of your attached file.
  
• Get feedback. Receive feedback on your course work from your instructor in a “private” email.
  
• Work on group assignments. Exchange ideas and let others review your writing assignment.

Discussion Board

Discussion Boards are especially useful for the following purposes:

• Exercise your knowledge. After reading units and articles, practice expressing what you have learned in online discussions. Notice how much you can retrieve from your readings and find out where you need to delve deeper.
  
• Get and receive comments and feedback. Students learn the most when sharing their knowledge and ideas with others.
  
• Ask questions. Discussion Boards can help you deepen your understanding of concepts and ideas.

Instant Messaging (IM)

Instant Messaging is especially useful for the following purposes:

• Chat "live" or "synchronously." To talk to your peer learner or instructor, you need to be online at the same time and accept the invitation message you get. Then you can communicate back and forth in “real time” vs. asynchronously with email or discussion threads that can be picked up hours or days after being written.
  
• Get an immediate response. Since you and your contact person are online chatting at the same time, feedback is instantaneous.
  
• Attend office hours. Some professors require or request that students contact them via IM during certain hours each week to ask questions.

Student Forum

Our student forum gives UNCG online students as well as students interested in taking UNCG online classes the option to get answers to their questions, such as what it is like to study online, and to discuss their experiences with online education. The student forum is accessible to anyone wishing to discuss topics relating to online learning. Click here to visit the student forum.

Phone

 Phone communication is especially useful for the following purposes:

• To give you a non-online option. When doing most of the course work online and interacting with others through online communication tools. Professors can also be reached by phone.
  
  
• Discuss difficult topics in private. If you have questions or discussion topics that you want to discuss with your instructor in private and in “real time,” then take advantage of a phone call. For example, if you fall behind in class and need some tips on how to catch up.
  
   
• Ask for clear answers. If you couldn’t find an answer to a questions on UNCG iCampus, and you also didn’t receive a helpful tip through email or the discussion board, contact help resources over the phone.

Meetings (Face-to-Face or Virtual)

Face-to-face meetings (when possible) or online meetings via IM may be helpful or necessary to accomplish some class assignments or goals.

• Work on group projects. If you live close to campus, it might even be an option to meet with online classmates to work on a group task.
  
• Attend office hours. If you can get to campus, then take advantage of meeting your instructor in person to discuss your progress and other study–related topics.
  
• Learn in study groups. Take advantage of study-groups if you can.

• Feeling Comfortable
• Active Participation
• Method of Communication
• Online Etiquette
• Giving and Receiving Feedback