Artifact: Image showing the amount of email from only the first week of the e-Portfolio project
Date: Nov. 2007
Course: e-Coaching practicum
Competency: Effective Instructional Practice

Rationale
This is a partial email list that reflects a fraction of the emails that have been generated through the process of setting up and beginning this program. I have only facilitated one workshop so far, had 2 or 3 face-to-face meetings, and attended 1 meeting yet the process has generated more than a 150 emails. This seems worth investigating.

emails.GIF

My initial reflection on the practicum process is that working planning and delivering online programs takes far more conscious communication than in face-to-face environments. What I mean by conscious communication is communication that has a definite purpose rather than a face-to-face dialogue where multiple purposes exist Even the smallest things require answers in projects and programs where participants are working primarily through email. Face-to-face working environments are rich and have more complexity than online environments and at times I have found the process of emailing boring and repetitive whereas I always find having a discussion with someone in almost any circumstance interesting.

What relationships does this medium foster? I have been using the social networking site Facebook and it has a birthday reminder tool. When it is someones birthday who is on my friend list I get a reminder and so I write them a note like this

Happy birthday Chris

Suddenly I am sending out birthday wishes to all my friends and acquaintances. Is this authentic communication? How feelings and emotions be expressed through email?

Through the process of completing the practicum at the UBC TEO I have tried to personalize emails I write. Sometimes this might be as simple as mentioning the current weather, however; I continue to pursue ways to incorporate more humor in emails and to project an authentic voice.