5 Pro Tips for Digital Communication

If 93% of our communication happens non-verbally, how do we adapt as a social species in digital learning environments?

1. Camera - Where Do I Point This Thing?

The easiest way to improve your online presence is to move your camera to be at an optimal angle for your audience. Make sure the camera is above your head and slightly pointing down. You also do not want your camera to be zoomed in too close. Leave enough room for your students to see your hand gestures as you talk throughout the class. Lastly, your lighting is important and you should be lit from the front and not the back. Click here for more on Zoom video quality.

Pro Tip: If you are primarily using a laptop to do most of your teaching, try using a thick book to raise your laptop up for a more optimal angle. Oftentimes laptops on desks do not have an optimal angle for engagement and a thick book or two should help you unlock better camera placement.

2. Hands - What Do I Do With Them?

Studies show that we build trust non-verbally and we have an easier time trusting someone when we see their hands (McGregor and Tan, 2015). Comprehension is also easier when someone is using hand gestures while talking because that person is communicating both verbally and nonverbally at the same time. 

Pro Tip: Include hand gestures while speaking on Zoom. If you make a conscious effort, it will become more habitual and help you capture student attention. There is no shame in hopping into an empty Zoom room and practicing your presentations and live session plans.

3. (Almost) Always try to keep contact with your audience

Eye contact is hard for faculty who are teaching using two screens, but it is important to use it as a tool to make sure your audience and students know you are engaged and listening to what they say. Try to look at the screen containing the camera in order to stay engaged with your audience.

Pro Tip: When using dual monitors, put the item you are sharing on the second monitor keeping your students on your main monitor. That way when you are sharing you are looking to the side and when you are not, you are looking directly at your students and not the other way around.

4. Nod and Smile

When communicating in the digital classroom, you are working with a lot less non-verbal cues than in an onground classroom. Visibly nodding your head and smiling as your students talk may keep them engaged as you show that you are actively listening to what they are saying.

Pro Tip: Try to exaggerate a lot of the cues you would otherwise tone down in a regular classroom. It will be easier for students to respond if they can clearly see how you are communicating. Also, if you have the ability to stand while teaching, those gestures will be easier to project.

5. Body Posture

Try to maintain a steady and open posture when presenting yourself on Zoom. Do not be afraid to lean into the camera if a topic or what a student or colleague is saying intrigues you. But, avoid hunching over your laptop/work space. This will give off a tired and tense look to your audience.

Pro Tip: Consider investing in a standing desk or ergonomic chair. Having the ability to stand or using a solid chair with lumbar support will definitely help your lower back! If you are feeling more adventurous, substitute a large yoga ball for a chair to help improve your posture. 

Further Reading: Navigating Non-Verbal Communication in the Digital World