Why Communication is Hard

Communication is one of the key ingredients in successful collaboration. At the same time, it is one of the most challenging aspects. I find for myself it is difficult to understand what I'm thinking, let alone what someone else is thinking - even when they tell me. Do people think in words? Images? Both? Neither? Is the best way to communicate effectively in person? Through email? Via instant messaging? The more people you add to the collaboration, the more styles of communication you need to become familiar with, and the higher the chances are for miscommunication. I also find a tension between how frequently communication is necessary, how in depth those communications need to be - and the expectations the other members of the collaboration have. I have learned there are few hard and fast rules about it, and each person is different. I have also learned that even my own forms, ways and expectations of communication vary from project to project and person to person.

Why does this matter for this course? It's vital. Communication goes beyond what the group designs for the course. Communication is a part of what the group designs for the course. How do teachers and students best communicate? Are there best practices? How can instructional design help teachers and students communicate better?

I thought instead I might try to represent some of the communication issues I commonly see, experience, and try not to repeat.

I'll leave you to make your own meaning from the above visuals - decide what type of communication works, or doesn't work. What makes communication so hard? Humans. Just humans.