5 Communication Inside and Outside of The Classroom

Sending an Email to your Professor

In all workplace environments, including the academic environment, email is professional communication. Your communication with your professors should reflect that professionalism. Learning how to send an email to professor is an important skill for first-year students, even if professors seem more informal. Below are some tips to help you communicate effectively with your professor.

• Address your professor formally by your professor’s last name. Do not start typing your email without doing so.
  • Dear Professor_____,
• Maintain a professional tone.
  • Avoid using informality and slang i.e. “gonna” and “your” instead of “you are.”
  • Avoid texting conventions like “u” and “ur.”
  • Proofread and check for spelling errors.
• Show your professor that you tried to solve the problem on your own first.
  • Make sure that you have read the assignment directions, re-watched a course video, or checked Canvas to find the answer on your own first.
• Avoid asking your professor to respond right away or ASAP.
• Always close your email by providing your full name and section number.
  • Your professor may not know you by your nickname and may not know which section you are in.
  • You do not need to give your Social Security Number, Banner ID, or ABC123.

Classroom Etiquette/Netiquette

• Silence your phone when in the classroom.
• Only use your phone for in class research and as assigned, especially in a f2f class (don’t text during class).
• Keep discussions with peers to a minimum, except in a group work and class discussion.
• Show your image in online classes, especially when speaking.
• Mute yourself when you are not speaking on an electronic (Zoom) forum.
  • Ask questions and participate in class discussions.
  • Raise your hand (or use the “raise your hand” icon) to ask questions or speak in class.
  • Practice active listening when your peers speak in group work or class discussion.
  • Disagree agreeably, do not dismiss your peer’s point of view.
  • Assign roles in group work to give each member a chance to participate.