Communication

How I Communicate -  My Philosophy

Below I have listed the tools that I use to communicate, interact and conduct most of my business as an instructor at MATC.   Because people are taking classes in IT, I expect them to utilize these tools to complete thier school work, interact with me and with other students.  When you get into the field you will be expected to check and respond to email frequently.  You will be working in environments that utilize VoIP applications.  You will be asked to support environments where people are utilizing Web 2.o tools to colloborate and effieciently get work done.  The tools listed below in combonation with this blog, Friendfeed, Twitter, and the Google Group will allow you to accomplish this.

The primary method I use for communication with my students is email.  You emails should all have clear subject that makes it easy for me to know what the email is about and should be signed with your full name and what class you are in.  Do not take for granted that I will know.  I usually respond to emails within 24 hours, usually much sooner. If you have not got an adequate reply in 48 hours you should resend the email.

The second method I use for communication is Instant Message.  I primarily rely on Google Talk  and Skype.  Both Google Talk and Skype can easily be a voice and video chat after a messaging session is established.  Instant messaging can also be accomplished through Friendfeeed, however this mode of communication is better when you want to address a question to your classmates too.

The third method is the use of Friendfeed in the classes you are in or within the ITatMATC feed.  These operate in real time and are archived on the page.  These messages can be recieved through email, IM or on the web.  The idea behind this is to form a student community for the individual classes you are in and then provide the general ITatMATC group that you can remain in after your classes with me have finished.  Posting to Friendfeed should be used to share information with me and your collegues.  To ask questions that are  not specific to you but more general questions that might benefit other people when answered.  I will also use to post important class annoucnements and other general materail that might be of interest to students in IT.

The Google Group is used to disseminate information that I recieve through email that would be of interest to my students.  This infomation can pertain to job opportunities, internships, MATC happenings, etc.  Only I can post to this group.  You subscribe to it and then you will recieve these emails when I post them to the group.

Phone calls are the least desirable way to communicate with me.  If you need to talk to me Skype and Google Talk would be a better solution. However, if you chose to call me, more likely than not you will get my Google Voice Mail.  I much rather prearrange our phone call through email so that we both know we will be available for the call.  Phone tag voice mail is just not an efficient way to communicate.

Lastly, In person appointments set up thought email are great.  We setup a time, even if it is during my office hours, so that I know I will be available and not book other students during that time. I am not opposed to traditional ways of communication, however, I like to rely on the new tools to make those meetings more efficient.

What you will come to find it is that I am extremely available through all of these methods of communication, both days, nights and weekends.  I like to utilize methods that make the best use of your valuable time and mine!

So the following is all of this information distilled down to the brass tax -

When to use -

Email

  • Need to communicate with me directly.  Personal questions, Blackboard changes and requests, anything that should be directed to me and not the class – tony@itatmatc.com

Friendfeed

  • All other communication.  General questions that would benefit the class.  Questions regarding the class or topics.  Sharing information with the class, links, pictures, videos, etc.  Any topic that would be good for the class to provide input on.  Eg. What computer should I buy, etc.

Twitter

  • Quick share of information.  No discussion required.

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