Have any of you struggled with knowing how to post? I know I did. And I think the IMC program does a good job setting up expectations – they even give us examples!

But I still didn’t get it at first and still struggle sometimes. Why is this?

I think there are several issues at play here:

• The way we post in this program is unnatural. Think of how you and I are used to communicating via email, chat or text. It is basically a written version of a conversation. Especially in the younger generation (I feel old just saying that). They have grown up having conversations by typing online and texting. It is a very casual format.

• In an on-line program we may tend to think of posting as a replacement for in class participation or discussions. But in class students give reactions off the top of their head and merely refer to what they read in the text.

• But a posting is not a paper either. Nobody wants to read 100 additional papers every week. We have enough formal reading between our textbooks, lessons and assigned reading. Posting is supposed to be a discussion – a back and forth between students learning from each other, questioning, pushing, furthering ideas.

So what is a post? I have come to think about posts and responses as mini-conversational papers.

I remember when I first started I was guilty of the causal post. I delivered a series of my “expert” opinions – I’ve been in the business a long time after all! (Boy have I learned a lot!) I’m usually more humble, but it is amazing how arrogance can sneak up on you.

Then after being “educated” by my professor I went to the other extreme. Scared to voice any personal opinions, my posts became slightly reworded copy and pastes of journal or business articles with little or no transition and devoid of personality.

I’ve seen both of these extremes in others as well. Some didn’t even paraphrase and their posts became a series of long quotes. Others continued slightly longer versions of “Great post, I agree with your opinion. Who else agrees?” I’ve been guilty of that also.

But this is how I approach my posts and responses now: I won’t pretend to know it all. In fact, I invite everyone to comment and share your “tricks” to posting.

• I start by forming a personal opinion and think about what story I want to tell. Do I agree or disagree? Is there potential to take it in a new direction?

• I’ll check to see if any of the assigned reading relates to or supports my opinion/story. I’ll also see if I have any work experience that is related to the subject.

• Then I’ll find support starting with Google, looking for business articles or market research. (Sometimes the main findings of those $1,500 market research reports appear in news articles or press releases) I will then jump over to the databases available through WVU’s Library. (LexisNexis, EBSCO Host, etc.)

• What normally happens now is that the research I find doesn’t exactly match the story I want to tell. It takes it in a slightly different direction or even contradicts my assumptions. This is the fun part. It makes the story more interesting.

• Once I’ve got all the research, I fill in the gaps, condensing and rewording as I go, ending up back at the beginning and left usually left with another question.

• Responses follow a similar pattern.

Yes, it takes some time to go through this process and sometimes I feel like I’m taking way too much. I’m trying to get more efficient. I also tend to stick close to the one/four requirements. Once I meet that requirement then I feel free to make more general comments. But maybe I haven’t figured this out yet and I am posing. And sometimes a coffee this big isn’t enough . . .

What does everyone else think? ; )

Keith