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Please read these quotations (in blue) from recent
participants in The Educators' Network and see what you
can learn from them.
"I
was impressed to know that I can make a link with people outside
my Province through computers. During the holiday an eductor will
visit me from Northern Cape. All this was due to the modules
we are doing together. "
"Every time I received an e-mail from one of you I tried to
form a picture in my mind of you, like when I thought that Bernie
(one of the lady group members) was a man!"
Trust
"I
feel that we are slowly getting to know each other through this
medium. It is amazing how much one reveals of oneself as one types
out one's
thoughts."
Trust between the participants, as well as between
the facilitator and the participants is the foundation for the success
of a mailing list. Without trust, people will not be able to feel
part of the group in order to work together, share information,
participate in discussions or accept rules and guidelines.
Common
goals
"I
agree with Felicity when she says that the website on Zulu dances
contains the most accurate info."
A group will be able to work together online when
they share common goals. The need to work together will even be
stronger as the participants realise that they are dependent on
each other to reach those goals. Implementing specific projects
or activities such as a discussion can often support achieving common
goals. Projects and joint activities keep the group focussed and
their success strengthens the group’s sense of achievement and common
purpose.
Commitment
"I
had a weekend away from my computer, and I found it quite stressful!
I hadn’t realised how much I was enjoying and looking forward
to reading my e-mails
every day!"
The key ingredient for working together to reach
a common goal is commitment. A successful mailing list consists
of committed group members who feel responsible for their own actions
so that others can depend on them. Committed participants keep to
their promises, follow guidelines, stay involved and, when needed,
put the group’s common interest above their own personal ones. A
committed group will be able to develop its own group identity and
a sense of shared accountability for the group’s common goal.
Respect
and encouragement
"I think it is
time for me to say WOW!!! - So much mail - so many wonderful ideas
and views. Between us we could solve any and every
problem!!"
Trust, common goals and a commitment to each other
and to that common goal are all key factors for working together
online. Another important ingredient is how we work
together, how we communicate and exchange information. Some people
will only share their time or expertise when they feel
they are being cared for.
Others concentrate on the practical tasks that help them to reach
their goal and share their resources whenever needed. Some people
need a lot of personal encouragement; others feel better when left
alone to fulfil their task.
A
few hints on Netiquette
The basis for a successful mailing list lies
in the information sharing capacity of all members of the list. Try
to make the written word help you to communicate rather than confuse
your readers. Please click on this link to read the basic
points about Netiquette.
Remember greeting and signing off is much the
same as normal letter writing - "Dear" Xolani is
a common form of starting a letter but even "Hey Xolani!"
is better than just starting to write without any form of
greeting.
... and signing off - even the most polite mail
can be meaningless if the person does not say who they are or where
they are writing from. We would
be unable to assist this teacher quoted below if he wrote
from an address outside of the school and did not say who he was
nor which school he was from:
"Thank
you for reminding us about the registration. The teachers are eager
to start, but there is a problem with the modem, so we have to wait
for it to be replaced."
We hope you find that you make lots of online
friends and in the process you build up good relationships that allow
you to learn and grow along the way.
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