Online personas are no longer taboo or part of a hushed conversation. Anybody that has a social media account has an online persona. Facebook is typically where we let our virtual hair down to interact with friends, peers, major brands, and news outlets. The conversations are less formal, and can range from controversial to commenting on videos about cats. Most online students have at least one online presence they regularly subscribe to. Separating that persona from the classroom is the typical rule of thumb, but then the issue of authenticity comes up.
In the online classroom the setting is much like that of a traditional classroom setting. There is a certain sense of decorum expected from both the instructor and students. In most syllabi you’ll even see a note to respect the other student’s opinions in the class; this means that blatantly calling someone’s opinion stupid is not allowed or acceptable behavior. Generally students will behave themselves in class, and reserve judgement about their peers for a later posting on social media. While this may seem like an acceptable way to blow off steam, it’s also a bit catty and inauthentic. One word in particular comes to mind in regards to this behavior, “catfish.”
This term came about from a film released in 2010 called, “Catfish.” The movie follows the life of an amateur filmmaker as he cultivates a budding relationship with an online love interest. In the end he discovers that the girl he thought he was falling in love with was a complete stranger. This type of scenario isn’t uncommon in the online realm. With the easy access to online content anyone can put on the mask of an attractive stranger and pretend to be somebody they’re not. It becomes a problem when the unsuspecting victim is bamboozled by the embellished persona. The same can happen in the online classroom.
While the online learning platform is there for you to learn from, not to find dates, the same principle applies. Be authentic to who you say you are from your introductory posts and throughout the remainder of the class. Little white lies to your instructor or classmates will catch up with you; especially if you’re plagiarizing a classmates discussion post. It’s also off putting if you use social media to complain or make fun of others. Most of us use these channels as sound boards for venting frustrations or looking for new ideas, but the more you complain the less people want to hear about it.
Find ways to be more authentic when posting as your online persona. If you’re a shy individual and you use social media as your soapbox that’s fine, but don’t be shocked if someone calls you out on it in real life. Also, don’t completely hold back with your classmates. If you disagree with someone’s point in a discussion post then probe them for clarification or more information. Frame your question so that you both learn from the experience. Sometimes we choose to argue or fight with those we don’t understand. Eliminate the questions and you might find an ally.
By J. Mason
Online Learning Tips Editor
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