Online Communication Certification? But, Why?!

  Editor Note: Rachel Kays, one of the Top Talker's student leaders, sent me this post about Online Communication Certification. Enjoy!

Hey everyone!

With the chapter year over, I’m sure all of you have been thinking, “What has Rachel been doing relating to ICC?” Because that’s exactly what you’re wondering about, that is exactly what I’ll be answering.

Right now I’m going through a training series called the Online Communication Certification (OCC). I bet you laughed there, didn’t you? After all, why would a millennial like me who uses Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram regularly need a certification to learn how to talk on them? That’s precisely why. We are trained to use manners in real life and to communicate with others in a very specific way. But who has trained us to do this online?

Have you ever looked at a Facebook status and asked yourself, “Why is that even on there? That seems kind of pointless.” Or have you logged onto Instagram and thought, “Does that person do anything else but take selfies?” My hope in taking the OCC is to help change this. I want to learn how to create meaningful statuses and truly communicate messages with my friends, family, and acquaintances. I would also like to learn more about how the platforms of social media can be used to influence my online community.

By practicing using various online platforms in a more effective way, I will become more acquainted with how to communicate online. This can include tweeting more often while also focusing my tweets on having a purpose. By practicing more, I will be able to communicate more effectively with others online.

Now, all of this talk about messages and purpose isn’t to say that we should avoid having fun on social media at all costs and stick to serious subjects. One of the purposes of social media includes having fun in your online community. But even fun without a purpose (like telling a joke that’s not funny) can have negative results.

Once I finish my certification, I hope to continue communicating with my audiences in a more effective and connective way through all social media platforms I use. I want to show that I still care about the other person, even online. Yes, there is another person on the other side of that computer, not a heartless robot.

The Online Communication Certification is available to those who have completed phase 2 of the Young Speakers’ Guild and are 13 years old. Social media does have a purpose and we can use it to make a difference, whether that difference is simply changing someone’s mood or starting a movement. I encourage you all to join me in this adventure and learn to effectively communicate online and make a difference through social media.

Hey everyone!

With the chapter year over, I’m sure all of you have been thinking, “What has Rachel been doing relating to ICC?” Because that’s exactly what you’re wondering about, that is exactly what I’ll be answering.

Right now I’m going through a training series called the Online Communication Certification (OCC). I bet you laughed there, didn’t you? After all, why would a millennial like me who uses Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram regularly need a certification to learn how to talk on them? That’s precisely why. We are trained to use manners in real life and to communicate with others in a very specific way. But who has trained us to do this online?

Have you ever looked at a Facebook status and asked yourself, “Why is that even on there? That seems kind of pointless.” Or have you logged onto Instagram and thought, “Does that person do anything else but take selfies?” My hope in taking the OCC is to help change this. I want to learn how to create meaningful statuses and truly communicate messages with my friends, family, and acquaintances. I would also like to learn more about how the platforms of social media can be used to influence my online community.

By practicing using various online platforms in a more effective way, I will become more acquainted with how to communicate online. This can include tweeting more often while also focusing my tweets on having a purpose. By practicing more, I will be able to communicate more effectively with others online.

Now, all of this talk about messages and purpose isn’t to say that we should avoid having fun on social media at all costs and stick to serious subjects. One of the purposes of social media includes having fun in your online community. But even fun without a purpose (like telling a joke that’s not funny) can have negative results.

Once I finish my certification, I hope to continue communicating with my audiences in a more effective and connective way through all social media platforms I use. I want to show that I still care about the other person, even online. Yes, there is another person on the other side of that computer, not a heartless robot.

The Online Communication Certification is available to those who have completed phase 2 of the Young Speakers’ Guild and are 13 years old. Social media does have a purpose and we can use it to make a difference, whether that difference is simply changing someone’s mood or starting a movement. I encourage you all to join me in this adventure and learn to effectively communicate online and make a difference through social media.

 Rachel Kays
Chapter Top Talkers
Chapter Chair
ASLC Member