Dear Crossroads Students,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well and hope you are managing the challenging times in which we are currently living. We are doing distance learning for the time being and using apps like Google Hangout or Zoom Chat, I want to bring up some key tips for proper etiquette during video calls. Crossroads School you practice face-to-face social skills. We are still "face-to-face" even if those faces are only on a computer screen!
As you read the list below, do you recognize ideas from the Positivity Project that we have already studied?
1.
Being present
and giving others my attention. Be on time and make sure that there is nothing in the room to distract you or distract others: like a dog barking or a TV on high volume.
2.
Perspective
. Make your background look nice. No one wants to see dirty laundry on the floor.
3.
Kindness
. Treat everyone with kindness so it is a good idea to mute yourself when not speaking. Even though you may not be speaking and think you're being quiet, most microphones can pick up minor background noises, like coughs, sneezes, or typing. These sounds can easily distract other video conferencing participants and potentially even cause annoyance.
4.
Fairness
. It is a good idea to raise your hand in the chat and that way, the teacher can call on you and everyone can share their ideas/questions.
5.
Teamwork
. This is the most important key tip. We are all working together to make sure everyone succeeds! I am very proud of how everyone is handling distance learning so far.