Moodle allows teachers to set up online forums for groups of students. Participants can receive posts by email, and/or log onto Moodle to view them.

Find out more about discussion forums in Moodle

Teams meetings - Meetings or classes can be held online for all learners, but can also be recorded and made available to be watched at a later date.

Channel posting – If you are part of Teams group, you will be able to post in the channels to ask questions or interact with your peers. 

Teams chat – Chat is between a selected group of people (possibly as part of a meeting) or between just two people, and is private from the rest of Teams.

Your student email is provided through Microsoft Outlook. We highly recommend you get in the habit of checking your OP account like you do your own personal email accounts. Services like the Robertson Library and OPSA use your OP address to communicate with you, as well as your teacher.

Some programmes make informal Facebook groups or Messenger groups to aide with group communication.

• Keep your words to a minimum
• Avoid slang and abbreviations
• Check that auto-correct hasn’t changed any words
• Check you have selected the correct person to send to
• Avoid emojis, as these can be confusing and sometimes don’t translate across software
• Avoid using capitals as this is seen as ‘shouting’ online.

• Who is the communication for? Is it formal or informal?
• How will the context affect the way you communicate?
• Introduce yourself and sign off
• Remember that culture influences communication style and practices
• Stay open, ask questions, and avoid assumptions
• Teachers will usually set the tone for the group and provide guidance/guidelines.

• We all come with personalities. Remember, there’s a person behind the words. Ask for clarification before making judgments.
• There are no visual or tonal cues in online communication, this means a lot of meaning is lost.
• Check your tone/language before you publish: will everyone understand what you are saying?
• Respond to people using their names
• Remember that culture, and even gender, can play a part in how people communicate.
• Avoid jokes and sarcasm, especially online. It’s easy for your intention to get lost without your body language.
• Stay open, ask questions, and avoid assumptions.

• What you say online is difficult or impossible to take back later
• Consider your responsibility to the group and the learning environment
• If you are working collaboratively, agree on ground rules for text communication.

• Seek clarification before reacting
• Accept and forgive mistakes
• Consider your responsibility to the group and to the learning environment

• Use direct quotes before responding to a specific point made by someone else
• Ask the author of an email/message before forwarding it or reposting publicly.

If you are not sure what to say, how to say it or where to say it, then ask your teacher for guidance.

Sometimes, online behaviour can appear so disrespectful and even hostile that it requires attention and follow up. In this case, let your teacher know right away so that the right resources can be called upon to help.

Check out our resource on cyber bullying.