Using E-Email Effectively

Course Outline:

Seat Time: 3.5hrs

This course will outline the appropriate uses and purposes of effective email. This course will also present to the learner various terms, jargon, and common email problems. After completing this program, the learner will be able to:

• Send and respond to email professionally and effectively.
• Identify and avoid common email problems, spam, chain letters, and unprofessional correspondence.
• Maintain confidentiality while using email and other forms of eCommunication. 

Course Topics:

T1. Introduction to Email: This topic will introduce the learner to the concept of electronic communication, most notably "electronic mail" or "email", and will discuss its advantages, key features, and use in the workplace.

T2. Terms and Jargon: This topic will discuss how to communicate effectively using email, and will educate the learner on the use of various terms and jargon to better understand email and email programs.

T3. Common Email Problems: This topic will explain particular email problems that have the potential to distort messages, including tone, role, and writing style, and will discuss problem areas and ways of resolving problems.

T4. Formatting: This topic will affirm the necessity of professionalism and proper formatting of emails, with details about subject lines, HTML coding, Rich Text Format, plain text, URLs, links, and punctuation.

T5. Context: This topic will instruct the learner on which questions to ask when composing a message, and will discuss addressing the audience appropriately while keeping syntax and culture in mind.

T6. Attachments: This topic will explain the use of attachments in emails, with details about problems, such as formatting, space, and security issues, and solutions.

T7. Work Flow and Productivity: This topic will address the importance of being responsive, and ways in which delaying responses and writing proper responses affect messages and conversations.

T8. Attention to Detail: This topic will explain how small details have a large impact, and will note the necessity of organization, tone, proofreading, and correcting mistakes when writing an email.

T9. Addressing: This topic will discuss, in detail, the address fields of emails, and will note the potential problems with each field, as well as address reading receipts and tags.

T10. What Your Email Communicates: This topic will acquaint the learner with the message that an email communicates, and will address the use of inappropriate fonts and content.

T11. Spam and Chain Letters: This topic will define spam, and will discuss different types of spam, such as commercial, advance fee fraud, phishing, and chain letters, and ways to protect oneself.

T12. Organization: This topic will discuss email folders and their use in organizing an inbox, and will educate the learner on using rules and prioritizing emails.

T13. OtherForms of eCommunication: This topic will introduce the learner to other forms of eCommunication, such as text message and instant messaging, and will discuss how to properly use alternate forms of eCommunication in the workplace.

T14. Confidentiality: This topic will discuss the importance of confidentiality and security for the information sent through emails, as well as the use of emails in recordkeeping.