Communicating emotions effectively in online learning environments

This paper presents an analysis of the various textual and visual ways that emotions are typically communicated in online learning environments. It also looks at the importance (and limitations) of both verbal and nonverbal online communication from the perspective of Daniel Goleman ' s concept of "emotional intelligence." Descriptions of three case studies demonstrate situations that involve emotionally-based student-instructor interactions that could have become problematic without the instructor's awareness of the actual emotional issues involved.. The paper concludes with a set of recommended guidelines for instructors addressing emotions in online learning situations.