IC3/Electronic Communication

Electronic Communication

Electronic communication is the meaningful exchange of information at a distance by technological means, particularly through electrical signals or electromagnetic waves.

This lesson introduces electronic communication and helps learners prepare for the IC³ Living Online certification exam.

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the electronic communication portion of IC³ certification include:

Objectives

• Identify different types of electronic communication/collaboration and how they work
• Identify how to use an electronic mail application
• Identify the appropriate use of different types of communication/collaboration tools and the “rules of the road” regarding online communication (“netiquette”)

Skills

• E-mail communication: E-mail account settings, appropriate use of e-mail, managing e-mail communications
• Real-Time communication: Text communication, audio visual communication, telepresence
• Communication standards: Spelling, all capitals vs. standard capitalization, verbal vs. written, professional vs. personal communication, spamming, flaming, bullying, libel, slander

Readings

1. Wikipedia: Email
2. Wikipedia: Etiquette (technology)
3. Wikipedia: Social media
4. Wikipedia: WebRTC
5. Wikipedia: Telepresence
6. Wikipedia: Electronic Communications Privacy Act
7. Wikipedia: E-Commerce

Multimedia

1. YouTube: Computer Basics - What is Email
2. YouTube: Microsoft Outlook 2016 Tutorial
3. YouTube: Outlook 2016 Tips & Tricks
4. YouTube: How to Follow Proper Netiquette Rules
5. YouTube: History of Communication and Connection
6. YouTube: Does and Don't of Social Networking
7. YouTube:Technology Etiquette
8. YouTube: Electronic Communication
9. YouTube: How social media and electronic communication are revolutionizing business communication

Activities

1. Complete the tutorial Digital Learn: Intro to Email.
2. Complete the tutorial GCF Learn Free: Email Basics.
3. Complete one or more of the following tutorials:
   • GCF Learn Free: Outlook 2010
   • GCF Learn Free: Gmail
4. Practice your Netiquette skills when sending email messages.
5. Complete the tutorial GCF Learn Free: Beyond Email. Investigate one or more of the following social media web sites:
   • Facebook
   • LinkedIn
   • Pinterest
   • Twitter
6. Complete the tutorial GCF Learn Free: Facebook Chat. Use Facebook Chat or Skype Instant Messaging to communicate with a friend.
7. Complete the tutorial GCF Learn Free: Skype. Contact a friend and set up a Skype meeting.
8. Practice using the following types of electronic communications:
   • Email - YouTube: Email
   • Instant Messaging - GCF Learn Free: Instant Messaging
   • Video Chat - GCF Learn Free: Video Chat
   • Blogs - GCF Learn Free: Blogs
   • Social Media - GCF Learn Free: Social Media

Lesson Summary

• Telecommunication has a significant social, cultural, and economic impact on modern society.
• Email has been widely accepted by business, governments, and non-governmental organizations in the developed world, and is one of the key parts of an 'e-revolution' in workplace communication.
• Social media facilitates the development of online social networks by connecting a user's profile with those of other individuals or groups.
• Instant messaging is a set of communication technologies used for text-based communication between two or more participants over the Internet or other types of networks.
• Etiquette in technology governs what conduct is socially acceptable in an online or digital situation.
• Digital citizenship is a term that describes how a person should act while using digital technology online and has also been defined as "the ability to participate in society online". The term is often mentioned in relation to Internet safety and netiquette.

Key Terms

blog

A discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries ("posts").

data conferencing

A communication session among two or more participants sharing computer data in real time. Interaction and presentation devices such as a screen, keyboard, mouse, camera, etc. can be shared along with having the ability to control each other's computer.

digital broadcasting

The practice of using digital signals rather than analogue signals for broadcasting over radio frequency bands.

digital citizen

A person utilizing information technology (IT) in order to engage in society, politics, and government.

digital literacy

The set of competencies required for full participation in a knowledge society. It includes knowledge, skills, and behaviors involving the effective use of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop PCs for purposes of communication, expression, collaboration and advocacy.

e-commerce

A form of business communication where buying and selling products is serviced through the World Wide Web.

electronic mail (e-Mail)

A method of exchanging digital messages between people using digital devices such as computers, mobile phones and other electronics.

etiquette in technology

Governs what conduct is socially acceptable in an online or digital situation.

facsimile (fax)

The telephonic transmission of scanned printed material (both text and images), normally to a telephone number connected to a printer or other output device.

forum

An online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages.

instant messaging (IM)

A type of online chat that offers real-time text transmission over the Internet. A LAN messenger operates in a similar way over a local area network.

short message service (SMS)

A text messaging service component of most telephone, World Wide Web, and mobile telephony systems. It uses standardized communication protocols to enable mobile phone devices to exchange short text messages.

signal

A form of information which is converted to electric form used to transmitt data from one source to another. Signals can be analog or digital.

social networking service/social media

An online platform that is used by people to build social networks or social relations with other people who share similar personal or career interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections.

text messaging

The act of composing and sending electronic messages, typically consisting of alphabetic and numeric characters, between two or more users of mobile devices.

videotelephony

Comprises the technologies for the reception and transmission of audio-video signals by users at different locations, for communication between people in real-time.

voicemail (v-mail)

A computer-based system that allows users and subscribers to exchange personal voice messages; to select and deliver voice information; and to process transactions relating to individuals, organizations, products and services, using an ordinary telephone.

webcam

A video camera that feeds or streams its image in real time to or through a computer to a computer network.

electromagnetic waves

are formed when an electric field couples with a magnetic field . The magnetic and electric fields of an electromagnetic wave are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of the wave.

Review Questions

1. This handles the storing and delivery of an email message _____.

   The E-mail server handles the storing and delivery of an email message.
2. Netiquette is a set of guidelines for what _________.

   Netiquette is a set of guidelines for appropriate behavior on the Internet, including e-mail.
3. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin are all forms of _______.

   Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin are all forms of social media.

See Also

• Introduction to Computers

References

Subject classification: this is an information technology resource.

Type classification: this is a lesson resource.

Completion status: this resource is ~50% complete.

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