Survey of Recent Research Topics on Effective Use of Communication Tools in Higher Education

Abstract

Effective communication is crucial for the success and well being of students and faculty members in higher education. Communication can improve student’s learning outcomes by clarifying the expectations and learning objec- tives on both curriculum and course levels. Further inclusive communication can enable creating a sense of community and belonging among students and the faculty. In this article, we present the results of a literary survey conducted on recent research discussing communication practices and soft- ware communication tools in higher education. Both linear and interactive communication occur in variable contexts and between different participating roles. During campus lock downs caused by COVID-19 pandemic, teaching and related communication were moved into fully distance mode. For teaching and learning higher education institutions needed to rely on existing and newly created software platforms. Synchronous teaching and communication could be con- ducted using video and voice conferencing tools, like Zoom or Teams. Similarly asynchronous communication could use tools including forums or emails. The tools adopted during the pandemic largely remain in use after the comeback of blended learning. For future research one goal could be the creation of communication models that can integrate the roles, practices, and tools currently interacting in higher education.