Section 2, Group 7: Ellen Chu, Jenna Bauer, Lisa Lawrence, Jenna Kovacs Wikispace contents: All About Mediated Communication
An Interesting Story about why all Virtual Team Members should know the correct way to use Mediated Communication!
---Ronald is the virtual team manager of Global Communication and Advertising. The new organization has just been established and he’s been placed in charge of all virtual team organization. Since the organization is new Ronald is trying extremely hard to save the company time and money. He has decided that Global Communication and Advertising can communication solely on asynchronous communication. This form of communication consists of text messaging, e-mails, blogs, and shared documents. He figures since the members of the team do not have to make an official time to meet with each other the work will be done quicker and more efficiently. Although his intentions were meant to better the company, his logic was destroying it before it flourished. Slowly the team started to fall apart. Ronald could not figure out how to use synchronous technology and when he sent out the technology to the team they were reluctant to download and use it. They were so used to spending so little time on the project that they began to disregard time management and focus solely on their own leisure. In the end, the project was not completed. The team fell apart and Ronald was let go from the company. He entered Sunny Lee’s course Organizational Communication Dynamics and learned more information than he could imagine about mediated communication. He wanted to prove to Global Communication and Advertising that he had put effort into his position and was now prepared to reenter the company. He knew how to manage his team now and made a WikiSpace in order to reintroduce himself to the company. He sent it into the company with his resume.
What is mediated communication?
A good introduction to the idea of mediated communication: Wired Magazine: Where is the Digital Highway Really Heading? This article brings to mind the idea of where technology is currently heading, with a slight emphasis on mediated communication. This article also projects a foresight on where technology will go in the future.
Mediated communication today includes technology as an aid to spread information. In a world that is less synchronous than ever, individuals need to find a way to communicate trans-continentally to get things done. Companies are globally expanding, which means employees need to fine alternate ways to communicate despite geographic and time barriers. Schools and universities are expanding and creating study abroad programs with sister schools and universities. Students need to find ways to communicate with their teachers and professors from different countries.
With mediated communication comes an evolution with language, including emoticons and shorthand text. The following article from Wired magazine presents the evolution of language, included with a quantitative study:
The Web Not the Death of Language “The Web Not the Death of Language” condones that maybe the informality of internet-mediated communication is not as destructive as it is thought to be. The use of abbreviations, emoticons, and other ways of casual messaging, is questioned as to whether or not it is deteriorating language. In Spring 2003, a study on analyzing the informality of instant messaging took place. The results proved that there was less use of emoticons, abbreviations, and misspelling than expected. While all of these informal ways of messaging did show apparent, there was a small percentage of variety within those messages. Majority of the instant messages showed “lol” as the most popular acronym, and a smiley face as the most common emoticon. Overall, the study proved that instant messaging has positively resembled speaking more than writing, and in the words of David Crystal, a author and linguistics professor at the University of Wales at Bangor, the internet has allowed us to "explore the power of the written language in a creative way."
What are some types of mediated communication?
Mediated communication can be divided into two categories, synchronous and synchronous. Synchronous (same-time) communication means that all participants involved in the communication are present at the same time. In other words, it is direct communication. Examples include: face-to-face meetings, audio conferences, videoconferences, telephone conversations, instant messaging, and chat room meetings.
Asynchronous (different-time) communication is when all parties involved are not present at the same time. Examples include: email, voicemail, discussion boards, and text messages. It is not necessary for the receiver to be available at the time the message is sent. The following are descriptions of today's popular CMC.
Email: Email is the oldest and most well known form of CMC. In both the workplace and school, email is the mostly commonly used form of communication. It allows one to send a message as well as attach documents, pictures, links, or videos.
Instant messaging: Instant messaging is a quick and simple way to talk to one or multiple people simultaneously. IM’s features include: a buddy list, option to leave a message to an offline person, chat rooms, and sharing files. This form of communication is most popular among teenagers and young adults, specifically college students. However, as social networking sites obtain more popularity, the use of IM has decreased.
Blogs and Forums: A blog usually starts with a topic where people then post their knowledge and opinions pertaining to it. Blogs have been found especially useful for individuals attempting to solve a problem. This is because people often have similar problems and then ask a question about it in a forum or blog where several responses are generated by others who offer solutions, tips, and opinions.
Social Networking Websites: Social networking websites have burst with popularity recently, and are the current trend of computer mediated technology. They can combine email, instant messaging, and blogging all in one service. Popular sites include Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter. These sites offer several elements such as posting pictures and videos, posting updates on personal information, and much more. The websites have enabled people to connect with friends and family members, even those who are far away or fell out of touch in the past.
(The changing media landscape, our sources of media communication, and the power of technology.)
Who can use mediated communication?
Everyone has the ability to use mediated communication. We are all capable of figuring out how to use certain technologies. In this day of age almost everyone owns and is able to operate a cellphone. In order for businesses to stay in contact with their employees managers tend to give them company cellphones where they will be able to e-mail, text, and call them when needed. This form of communication allows new doors to be opened for late adopters in the technological world. There are also ways for training to be given to those who have a hard time learning how to use new technologies. Face-to-Face communication can even be a form of communication and who can't interact when they are face to face with someone! This form of communication can also be applied to Video Conferencing which will be mentioned in the Types of mediated communication in organizational settings section. This is the closet we can get to face-to-face communication when distance and time is a factor.
Not only can mediated communication be used in Virtual teams but it can also be used elsewhere such as in classrooms. In this article mediated communication is used in second language classrooms. Mediated communication can be extremely helpful in any situation and proves that it can be used by just about anyone!
Types/examples of mediated comm in social settings
When not in the office, or committed to professional work, we engage ourselves in social settings with those around us. It is in these social settings that our form of communication becomes the most casual because are no clear-cut boundaries as to what is or is not acceptable. Whether we are with family or friends or just the general public, we are avid users of mostly texting and using our cell phones on-the-go. However, when casual settings are still apparent but we are not communicating with others face-to-face, that is when we are using the computer. The computer and use of the internet consumes the greater part of our time over using different forms of communicative technology. With the internet, the revelation of social media has definitely occurred and it has put our society on the fast-track to creating bigger and better things. The most common hot spots on the web have become social media networks over the past few years. We have come to inform the web about our lives, and daily thoughts and opinions through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, countless blogs, and much more.
Types/examples of mediated comm in organizational settings:
Mediated communication can aid or hinder the information sending process in organizational settings. There are some questions regarding whether mediated communication can help in organizations. In order for an organization to be successful, employees need to communicate. Organizational work is contingent on collaboration, which makes communication a requirement. Types of mediated communication an organizational setting can include emails, instant messaging, memorandums, audio/video conferences, etc.
In the scholarly journal "Can Computer-Mediated Asynchronous Communication Improve Team Processes and Decision Making?", Gregory Berry talks about how computer mediated asynchronous communication aids organizations in overall communication and decision making processes, as well. He makes a very important point as to how communication is an overall concept embedded into a social process. Without communication, there will be no such thing as transferring ideas and sharing stories. Society would not be what it is today. Because of communication, development and advancement is possible.
In the article, Berry states, "Teams are ubiquitous in organizational settings because they can provide broad expertise and can increase the acceptability of organizational decisions, especially if the teams are consulted during the decision-making process (Orasanu & Salas, 1993)." Teams provide different perspectives, but communication is needed to get those perspectives across. Furthermore, Berry states, "Teams can also solve the problem of having too much information for any one person to collect or understand, although teams do incur coordination costs. However, teams often have trouble finding sufficient or convenient times to schedule meetings, finding competent communication systems to enable the sharing of information, and coordinating and synthesizing the contributions from team members. Teams, if diverse, often raise perspectives unique to specific and various areas of expertise or geography, and this also results in added difficulty for some teams in reaching consensus (Hedlund et al., 1998)." This is where mediated communication can help organizations.
As Berry develops his research and findings, he comes to the conclusion that asynchronous communication is most efficient in terms of getting work done. He explains his findings and how mediated communication makes such an impact on users. Mediated asynchronous communication allows individuals to communicate when they are not running on the same schedules or in the same geographic areas. Although there are some drawbacks - with asynchronous and non-f-t-f communication, users need to somehow capture that essence of f-t-f communication. Users need to take one extra step of work and make sure that no one is left out, emotions are not misconstrued, other group members are slacking, etc. But mediated communication has come a long way and is relatively low cost now, enabling new opportunities. On page 10 of the article, Berry lists the positive and helpful outcomes of mediated communication in organizational settings.He develops the rest of the report with finding and analyses, in which he concludes his article with:
"Computer-mediated communication has brought about radical changes in understanding communication, teamwork, and decision making. Unlike synchronous, face-to-face teams, computer-mediated teams do not have to be copresent in time or space to collaborate, share information, or make decisions. These developments and new channels of communication have shifted our understanding of teams from same time, same place to any time, any place (Hollingshead & Contractor, 2002). The core purpose of teams, regardless of communication type, is to enhance organizational effectiveness; thus, CMAC teams should be seen as an available tool to help organizations increase efficiency and productivity through effective teamwork and decision making."
Does mediated communication set some sort of barriers for certain individuals?
As much as we like to say that technology is omnipresent for everyone, it really isn't. The Digital Divide is widening more than ever, and the constant turnover of technology isn't helping. Mediated communication relies heavily on technology, and technology itself has its way of separating society into different groups and creating barriers. Information is widespread because of technology, and for those who cannot gain access to technology, they are not able to gain access to certain information.
There are many different types of barriers, some of which are listed: gender, ethnic, and age.
Gender Barriers: The attached file is an annotated bibliography and provides great useful resources to understand how mediated communication is defined by gender and gender styles. Each gender has their own approach to using technology, more specifically, technology mediated communication.
Ethnic Barriers: Most countries are melting pots of of multiple identities and talent. Because everyone is so different, communicating, there are some barriers who who uses what kind of technology and how. It's nothing on the individual, but rather, how the individual is using it by his/her own cultural norms. Ethnicity’s Role in Social Networking
Age Barriers: Age today defines how we are able to use mediated communication technologies. Age and ability are related. Younger generations are more exposed to technology at a younger age, helping them adapt to this new concept easier. Older generations are exposed to these mediated communication technologies later in their life, after they have established their own ways of doing things. They're not used to the new technology because they are conservative and still used to doing certain things without technology. Have you noticed that generations owning cell phones are much younger than back then? And older generations either don't know how to use a cell phone or refuse to use a cell phone? And that older generations prefer landlines? Younger generations prefer texting, while older generations prefer speaking via landlines. These observations are general, but they do occur. That's not to say that older generations cannot, will not, are unable to, are prohibited, etc. to use technology. Most likely, they aren't just able to adapt as easily as younger generations do. Younger generations can adapt because work and personal life are becoming blurred (work + leisure = weisure). They need to understand how to use mediated communication technologies in order to get the job done at work. The following URL is attached for your convenience understanding why there is an "age and ability" barrier with mediated communication technologies. Technology and the Generation Gap
Digital Divide: The Digital Divide is an important issue in today's world. The Digital Divide is the gap between those who have access to technology and those who don't. Those who don't usually live in areas where technology and internet is too expensive to afford. With all the help trying to dispel the Digital Divide, experts say these efforts are widening the gap unintentionally. Technology is always going to advance, with the initial cost being expensive, but waning down as time passes. But even so, not all can afford technology. I have found several articles to help explain exactly what the Digital Divide, and the efforts to help get rid of it.
Levels of Effective Communication in the Social Media Age:
1. The Public Reply: Allows for an open reply from the public through a source such as Twitter, and is favorable for its “no pressure” to respond to information like that which emails contain.
2. The Direct Message: Is great once a relationship is established and can be taken to the next level. An example of this is email, where people can be more descriptive with their responses and not be contained to a character limit.
3. E-mail: This form of communication is convenient for its ability to forward messages to mass amounts of contacts, deepen a conversation, and keep information meaningful, yet succinct.
4. Phone: Allows for a faster response rate, and gives someone the ability to have a greater sense of the other person’s intentions through their voice. Also, a lot of inconvenient back and forth messages are surpassed by dialing someone directly.
5. In-Person (or Video Chat): This form of communication allows for the highest level of in-depth conversation. This is enforced through the use of words, and by the meaning of one’s body language. People walk away from this form of effective communication with the greatest knowledge of what the meeting was for.
“In this era of social media when we are reaching out and engaging more and more people, the question is not just “Should I communicate with someone?” but “How should I communicate with someone? How can I build engagement one step at a time?” The more we allow for and understand the importance of all the various levels of communication, the more we can skillfully and effectively use each one.” - Soren Gordhamer
A classic college classroom example goes like this. The teacher walks up and down the aisles lecturing while her students gaze intently on their computer screens. But the teacher observes that they are not diligently taking notes but engaging in activities completely irrelevant to class. They are on aim, facebook, checking email, and looking at any other number of websites.
Computer Mediated Communication has created a dilemma in the classroom; students are simply not paying attention to professors as long as they have access to a computer or cell phone. In Jones’s article, The Problem of Context in Computer Mediated Communication, he confronts his students on this issue and is surprised that none offer apologies or even see what the problem is. “Some of them even wondered out-loud how I could expect them to operate a computer without having their ICQ contact lists open” (Jones 2002).
Other negative effects of CMC: · filters out personal and social cues · Enables flaming (hostile and insulting interaction between Internet users) and depersonalization(loss of personal identity) · Can be used to avoid unwanted social interactions
MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
Table of Contents
Wikispace contents: All About Mediated Communication
An Interesting Story about why all Virtual Team Members should know the correct way to use Mediated Communication!
---Ronald is the virtual team manager of Global Communication and Advertising. The new organization has just been established and he’s been placed in charge of all virtual team organization. Since the organization is new Ronald is trying extremely hard to save the company time and money. He has decided that Global Communication and Advertising can communication solely on asynchronous communication. This form of communication consists of text messaging, e-mails, blogs, and shared documents. He figures since the members of the team do not have to make an official time to meet with each other the work will be done quicker and more efficiently. Although his intentions were meant to better the company, his logic was destroying it before it flourished. Slowly the team started to fall apart. Ronald could not figure out how to use synchronous technology and when he sent out the technology to the team they were reluctant to download and use it. They were so used to spending so little time on the project that they began to disregard time management and focus solely on their own leisure. In the end, the project was not completed. The team fell apart and Ronald was let go from the company. He entered Sunny Lee’s course Organizational Communication Dynamics and learned more information than he could imagine about mediated communication. He wanted to prove to Global Communication and Advertising that he had put effort into his position and was now prepared to reenter the company. He knew how to manage his team now and made a WikiSpace in order to reintroduce himself to the company. He sent it into the company with his resume.
What is mediated communication?
A good introduction to the idea of mediated communication:Wired Magazine: Where is the Digital Highway Really Heading?
This article brings to mind the idea of where technology is currently heading, with a slight emphasis on mediated communication. This article also projects a foresight on where technology will go in the future.
Mediated communication today includes technology as an aid to spread information. In a world that is less synchronous than ever, individuals need to find a way to communicate trans-continentally to get things done. Companies are globally expanding, which means employees need to fine alternate ways to communicate despite geographic and time barriers. Schools and universities are expanding and creating study abroad programs with sister schools and universities. Students need to find ways to communicate with their teachers and professors from different countries.
With mediated communication comes an evolution with language, including emoticons and shorthand text. The following article from Wired magazine presents the evolution of language, included with a quantitative study:
The Web Not the Death of Language
“The Web Not the Death of Language” condones that maybe the informality of internet-mediated communication is not as destructive as it is thought to be. The use of abbreviations, emoticons, and other ways of casual messaging, is questioned as to whether or not it is deteriorating language. In Spring 2003, a study on analyzing the informality of instant messaging took place. The results proved that there was less use of emoticons, abbreviations, and misspelling than expected. While all of these informal ways of messaging did show apparent, there was a small percentage of variety within those messages. Majority of the instant messages showed “lol” as the most popular acronym, and a smiley face as the most common emoticon. Overall, the study proved that instant messaging has positively resembled speaking more than writing, and in the words of David Crystal, a author and linguistics professor at the University of Wales at Bangor, the internet has allowed us to "explore the power of the written language in a creative way."
What are some types of mediated communication?
Mediated communication can be divided into two categories, synchronous and synchronous. Synchronous (same-time) communication means that all participants involved in the communication are present at the same time. In other words, it is direct communication. Examples include: face-to-face meetings, audio conferences, videoconferences, telephone conversations, instant messaging, and chat room meetings.Asynchronous (different-time) communication is when all parties involved are not present at the same time. Examples include: email, voicemail, discussion boards, and text messages. It is not necessary for the receiver to be available at the time the message is sent. The following are descriptions of today's popular CMC.
Email:
Email is the oldest and most well known form of CMC. In both the workplace and school, email is the mostly commonly used form of communication. It allows one to send a message as well as attach documents, pictures, links, or videos.
Instant messaging:
Instant messaging is a quick and simple way to talk to one or multiple people simultaneously. IM’s features include: a buddy list, option to leave a message to an offline person, chat rooms, and sharing files. This form of communication is most popular among teenagers and young adults, specifically college students. However, as social networking sites obtain more popularity, the use of IM has decreased.
Blogs and Forums:
A blog usually starts with a topic where people then post their knowledge and opinions pertaining to it. Blogs have been found especially useful for individuals attempting to solve a problem. This is because people often have similar problems and then ask a question about it in a forum or blog where several responses are generated by others who offer solutions, tips, and opinions.
Social Networking Websites:
Social networking websites have burst with popularity recently, and are the current trend of computer mediated technology. They can combine email, instant messaging, and blogging all in one service. Popular sites include Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter. These sites offer several elements such as posting pictures and videos, posting updates on personal information, and much more. The websites have enabled people to connect with friends and family members, even those who are far away or fell out of touch in the past.
http://samuelfrenning.efoliomn.com/Group
(The changing media landscape, our sources of media communication, and the power of technology.)
Who can use mediated communication?
Everyone has the ability to use mediated communication. We are all capable of figuring out how to use certain technologies. In this day of age almost everyone owns and is able to operate a cellphone. In order for businesses to stay in contact with their employees managers tend to give them company cellphones where they will be able to e-mail, text, and call them when needed. This form of communication allows new doors to be opened for late adopters in the technological world. There are also ways for training to be given to those who have a hard time learning how to use new technologies. Face-to-Face communication can even be a form of communication and who can't interact when they are face to face with someone! This form of communication can also be applied to Video Conferencing which will be mentioned in the Types of mediated communication in organizational settings section. This is the closet we can get to face-to-face communication when distance and time is a factor.
Not only can mediated communication be used in Virtual teams but it can also be used elsewhere such as in classrooms. In this article mediated communication is used in second language classrooms. Mediated communication can be extremely helpful in any situation and proves that it can be used by just about anyone!
Types/examples of mediated comm in social settings
When not in the office, or committed to professional work, we engage ourselves in social settings with those around us. It is in these social settings that our form of communication becomes the most casual because are no clear-cut boundaries as to what is or is not acceptable. Whether we are with family or friends or just the general public, we are avid users of mostly texting and using our cell phones on-the-go. However, when casual settings are still apparent but we are not communicating with others face-to-face, that is when we are using the computer. The computer and use of the internet consumes the greater part of our time over using different forms of communicative technology. With the internet, the revelation of social media has definitely occurred and it has put our society on the fast-track to creating bigger and better things. The most common hot spots on the web have become social media networks over the past few years. We have come to inform the web about our lives, and daily thoughts and opinions through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, countless blogs, and much more.What’s Hot in Social Media This Week
Types/examples of mediated comm in organizational settings:
Mediated communication can aid or hinder the information sending process in organizational settings. There are some questions regarding whether mediated communication can help in organizations. In order for an organization to be successful, employees need to communicate. Organizational work is contingent on collaboration, which makes communication a requirement. Types of mediated communication an organizational setting can include emails, instant messaging, memorandums, audio/video conferences, etc.In the scholarly journal "Can Computer-Mediated Asynchronous Communication Improve Team Processes and Decision Making?", Gregory Berry talks about how computer mediated asynchronous communication aids organizations in overall communication and decision making processes, as well. He makes a very important point as to how communication is an overall concept embedded into a social process. Without communication, there will be no such thing as transferring ideas and sharing stories. Society would not be what it is today. Because of communication, development and advancement is possible.
In the article, Berry states, "Teams are ubiquitous in organizational settings because they can provide broad expertise and can increase the acceptability of organizational decisions, especially if the teams are consulted during the decision-making process (Orasanu & Salas, 1993)." Teams provide different perspectives, but communication is needed to get those perspectives across. Furthermore, Berry states, "Teams can also solve the problem of having too much information for any one person to collect or understand, although teams do incur coordination costs. However, teams often have trouble finding sufficient or convenient times to schedule meetings, finding competent communication systems to enable the sharing of
information, and coordinating and synthesizing the contributions from team members. Teams, if diverse, often raise perspectives unique to specific and various areas of expertise or geography, and this also results in added difficulty for some teams in reaching consensus (Hedlund et al., 1998)." This is where mediated communication can help organizations.
As Berry develops his research and findings, he comes to the conclusion that asynchronous communication is most efficient in terms of getting work done. He explains his findings and how mediated communication makes such an impact on users. Mediated asynchronous communication allows individuals to communicate when they are not running on the same schedules or in the same geographic areas. Although there are some drawbacks - with asynchronous and non-f-t-f communication, users need to somehow capture that essence of f-t-f communication. Users need to take one extra step of work and make sure that no one is left out, emotions are not misconstrued, other group members are slacking, etc. But mediated communication has come a long way and is relatively low cost now, enabling new opportunities. On page 10 of the article, Berry lists the positive and helpful outcomes of mediated communication in organizational settings.He develops the rest of the report with finding and analyses, in which he concludes his article with:
"Computer-mediated communication has brought about radical changes in understanding communication, teamwork, and decision making. Unlike synchronous, face-to-face teams, computer-mediated teams do not have to be copresent in time or space to collaborate, share information, or make decisions. These developments and new channels of communication have shifted our understanding of teams from same time, same place to any time, any place (Hollingshead & Contractor, 2002). The core purpose of teams, regardless of communication type, is to enhance organizational effectiveness; thus, CMAC teams should be seen as an available tool to help organizations increase efficiency and productivity through effective teamwork and decision making."
Some other helpful articles to consider relevant to this topic to consider:
Does mediated communication set some sort of barriers for certain individuals?
As much as we like to say that technology is omnipresent for everyone, it really isn't. The Digital Divide is widening more than ever, and the constant turnover of technology isn't helping. Mediated communication relies heavily on technology, and technology itself has its way of separating society into different groups and creating barriers. Information is widespread because of technology, and for those who cannot gain access to technology, they are not able to gain access to certain information.There are many different types of barriers, some of which are listed: gender, ethnic, and age.
Gender Barriers: The attached file is an annotated bibliography and provides great useful resources to understand how mediated communication is defined by gender and gender styles. Each gender has their own approach to using technology, more specifically, technology mediated communication.
Ethnic Barriers: Most countries are melting pots of of multiple identities and talent. Because everyone is so different, communicating, there are some barriers who who uses what kind of technology and how. It's nothing on the individual, but rather, how the individual is using it by his/her own cultural norms.
Ethnicity’s Role in Social Networking
Age Barriers: Age today defines how we are able to use mediated communication technologies. Age and ability are related. Younger generations are more exposed to technology at a younger age, helping them adapt to this new concept easier. Older generations are exposed to these mediated communication technologies later in their life, after they have established their own ways of doing things. They're not used to the new technology because they are conservative and still used to doing certain things without technology. Have you noticed that generations owning cell phones are much younger than back then? And older generations either don't know how to use a cell phone or refuse to use a cell phone? And that older generations prefer landlines? Younger generations prefer texting, while older generations prefer speaking via landlines. These observations are general, but they do occur. That's not to say that older generations cannot, will not, are unable to, are prohibited, etc. to use technology. Most likely, they aren't just able to adapt as easily as younger generations do. Younger generations can adapt because work and personal life are becoming blurred (work + leisure = weisure). They need to understand how to use mediated communication technologies in order to get the job done at work. The following URL is attached for your convenience understanding why there is an "age and ability" barrier with mediated communication technologies.
Technology and the Generation Gap
Digital Divide: The Digital Divide is an important issue in today's world. The Digital Divide is the gap between those who have access to technology and those who don't. Those who don't usually live in areas where technology and internet is too expensive to afford. With all the help trying to dispel the Digital Divide, experts say these efforts are widening the gap unintentionally. Technology is always going to advance, with the initial cost being expensive, but waning down as time passes. But even so, not all can afford technology. I have found several articles to help explain exactly what the Digital Divide, and the efforts to help get rid of it.
The Digital Divide: Where We Are Today
Should the Digital Divide be Closed?
Positive effects in general
Levels of Effective Communication in the Social Media Age:
1. The Public Reply: Allows for an open reply from the public through a source such as Twitter, and is favorable for its “no pressure” to respond to information like that which emails contain.
2. The Direct Message: Is great once a relationship is established and can be taken to the next level. An example of this is email, where people can be more descriptive with their responses and not be contained to a character limit.
3. E-mail: This form of communication is convenient for its ability to forward messages to mass amounts of contacts, deepen a conversation, and keep information meaningful, yet succinct.
4. Phone: Allows for a faster response rate, and gives someone the ability to have a greater sense of the other person’s intentions through their voice. Also, a lot of inconvenient back and forth messages are surpassed by dialing someone directly.
5. In-Person (or Video Chat): This form of communication allows for the highest level of in-depth conversation. This is enforced through the use of words, and by the meaning of one’s body language. People walk away from this form of effective communication with the greatest knowledge of what the meeting was for.
“In this era of social media when we are reaching out and engaging more and more people, the question is not just “Should I communicate with someone?” but “How should I communicate with someone? How can I build engagement one step at a time?” The more we allow for and understand the importance of all the various levels of communication, the more we can skillfully and effectively use each one.” - Soren Gordhamer
5 Levels of Effective Communication in the Social Media Age
Negative effects in general
A classic college classroom example goes like this. The teacher walks up and down the aisles lecturing while her students gaze intently on their computer screens. But the teacher observes that they are not diligently taking notes but engaging in activities completely irrelevant to class. They are on aim, facebook, checking email, and looking at any other number of websites.
Computer Mediated Communication has created a dilemma in the classroom; students are simply not paying attention to professors as long as they have access to a computer or cell phone. In Jones’s article, The Problem of Context in Computer Mediated Communication, he confronts his students on this issue and is surprised that none offer apologies or even see what the problem is. “Some of them even wondered out-loud how I could expect them to operate a computer without having their ICQ contact lists open” (Jones 2002).
Other negative effects of CMC:
· filters out personal and social cues
· Enables flaming (hostile and insulting interaction between Internet users) and depersonalization(loss of personal identity)
· Can be used to avoid unwanted social interactions
http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=196738