title: Connectiveness and civility in online learning.
abstract: As the classroom shifts from teacher-centered to learner-centered and from face-to-face to online, nursing faculty members are challenged to promote a sense of connectiveness and social interaction. Making connectiveness more elusive is the perception of rude, impolite, or unkind communication. The purpose of this descriptive-exploratory study was to examine perceptions of connectiveness and civility in online nursing courses. Ninety-six students in four nursing programs participated in the study. Strategies that promote connectiveness with peers are in-person activities whenever possible and discussion assignments that include social activities. Timely feedback when responding to questions and prompt grading are important for student-to-instructor connectiveness. Thirty-five percent of the students encountered rude or unkind communication with peers, and 60% reported incivility from instructors. Their suggestions for effective handling of rude communication included addressing the behavior privately, giving guidance about netiquette, and defining what constitutes rude behavior.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 15035, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, United States.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rieck
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crouch
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012919:Social Behavior; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013338:Students, Nursing