Managing multi-directional communication in the online classroom

The experience of four online business school professors is focused in this article on the importance of effective, multi-directional communication to achieving exit competencies and student satisfaction in the online classroom. This communication must be deliberately set up and modeled by the instructor. Specifically, downward, upward, and horizontal communications are explored in terms of their purpose and the tools and techniques which are appropriate for achieving these purposes. Recommendations for specific pedagogical techniques are made for each communication channel.