English in Digital World
by
Dr Sulagna Mohanty
Assistant Professor of English
EFL Department, SRM University
What is Online Communication?
• Online communication-
Exchange of information
over the internet
through digital devices
such as computers and
smartphones
• E.g.- Email, instant
messaging, social media,
video conferencing (e.g.,
WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom)
Types of Online Communication
Synchronous Communication
and
Asynchronous Communication
Types of Online Communication
Synchronous Asynchronous
Communicatio Communicatio
n n
Synchronous Communication
• Synchronous
Communication: Real-
time communication that
happens instantly like in
a conversation.
• Tools- Zoom, Microsoft
Teams, Google Meet
• E.g.- Zoom classes
during the pandemic
allowed teachers and
students to
Asynchronous Communication:
•Asynchronous
Communication: where the
sender and receiver do
not need to be online
simultaneously.
•Tools: Email, Reddit, Forums
•E.g.- Emailing a colleague
with project updates
allows them to read and
respond at their
convenience
Tools for Synchronous
Communication
DISADVANTAG
ADVANTAGES ES
- Instant -Requires
responses stable
- Live internet
discussions - Time-zone
-Better for issues
team
collaboration
- Interactive
sessions
Tools for Asynchronous
Communication
DISADVANTAG
ADVANTAGES ES
- Flexibility to - Delayed
respond at any response
time - Lack of
- Detailed and immediate
thoughtful clarification.
communication
Pros and Cons
of
Online Communication
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
-Global reach- - Digital fatigue-
communicate extended hours
with anyone, online can lead
anywhere to exhaustion
-Time and cost- - Misunderstandi
efficient- no ng-lack of facial
need for expressions or
physical travel tone in text
Netiquettes: Acceptable Online Roles and Behaviors
• Netiquette- Set of rules for acceptable online
behaviour
• Key Principles
• Be respectful- avoid offensive language
• Avoid ALL CAPS- can be seen as shouting
• Stay on topic- don’t derail conversations
Social Media Etiquettes
• Key Principles
• Be mindful of what you post-
avoid spreading
misinformation.
• Respect others’ opinion-
even if you disagree.
• E.g.- On Twitter (now X),
always fact-check before
sharing news, and avoid
personal attacks in the
comment section
Observing Non-verbal Cues in Online
Communication
PROBLEMS OPPORTUNITIES
- Information
overload- too
many sources can - Collaboration
be overwhelming. through shared
- Eg: A student resources like
researching Google Docs.
climate change is
bombarded with
too much data
from different - Eg: A team
sites. using Google
- Digital divide- Docs for real-
unequal access to time
the internet. collaboration
- Eg: Students in on a research
rural areas facing paper
connectivity
Tools to Check Grammar
• Some name of
the software:
Grammarly,
Hemingway,
ProWritingAid.
• Advantages:
Instant
feedback on
writing clarity,
grammar
mistakes and
tone.
Plagiarism: Definition and Avoidance
• Plagiarism- Presenting
someone else’s work
as your own without
credit.
• Consequences: Can
lead to academic
failure and damage to
credibility.
• E.g.- A student
copying paragraphs
from Wikipedia
without citation-
Citing Information Accurately from Sources
How??
•Avoid plagiarism
•Give proper credit.
•E.g.- A research paper citing a journal article in APA/MLA
style
•Self-plagiarism- It occurs when you reuse your own work
without proper attribution. While it might seem harmless
to recycle your writing, it can lead to ethical concerns and
academic penalties.
Types of Plagiarism
Academic Integrity
• Why?
• Builds trust in the academic community
• Encourages honest research practices
• E.g.- A researcher citing all their sources
properly and producing original work.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
Framing of Search Terms/Keywords in Search
Engines
- Search terms or keywords are the words or phrases
people use to find information on search engines
- Targeting the right keywords helps you find more
relevant and accurate information.
- Poor keyword choice can lead to irrelevant results.
E.g.- Searching for "best coffee shops in Chennai”- results
related to coffee shops
Types of Keywords
BROAD LONG-TAIL
KEYWORDS: KEYWORDS
- Single words
- More specific
or general
phrases
phrases
- (e.g., "best sci-
- (e.g.,
fi books for
"books").
teenagers").
Tips for using effective keywords in search
- Be Specific: Use detailedengines:
phrases instead of single words
(e.g., "best laptops for students" instead of just "laptops").
- Use Long-Tail Keywords: Longer, more specific phrases help
narrow down the results (e.g., "affordable Italian
restaurants in Delhi" instead of "restaurants").
- Include Relevant Terms: Add words that target your search
goal such as "buy," "review," or "how-to" (e.g., "buy
running shoes online" or "camera reviews 2024").
- Use Quotation Marks for Exact Matches: To search for an
exact phrase, enclose it in quotation marks (e.g.,
“sustainable farming methods”).
- Utilize Boolean Operators:AND: Combines two keywords
(e.g., "education AND technology").OR: Expands the search
(e.g., "laptops OR tablets").NOT: Excludes unwanted
results (e.g., "dogs NOT puppies").
Tips for using effective keywords in search
engines:
- Try Synonyms and Variations: Use different words that
mean the same thing (e.g., "job" vs. "career" or
"vehicle" vs. "car").
- Use Wildcards: Use the asterisk (*) to replace unknown
words in a search (e.g., "best* smartphone" will find
results for best budget, premium, or any other type of
smartphone).
- Refine Search with Filters: Apply search filters like
date, region, or language to get more relevant results
(e.g., filter news articles from the past week).
- Avoid Too Many Keywords: Don’t overload the search
box with too many words at once; this can dilute
results.
Mass Media Shaping Events Differently Across
Countries
Why?:
•Different countries have varying cultural, political, and
economic contexts.
•E.g.- Media coverage of climate change protests can be framed
as a political issue in one country and as an environmental
concern in another.
Any Question?