Managing Impression Formation in Computer-Mediated Communication.

51 influences both learning outcomes and student evaluations of the learning experience. Particularly for students new to instruction via technology, these impressions may have much to do with their satisfaction and learning. Students’ judgments about the teacher and the course often affect the efficacy of the instructional process, either positively or negatively. Following Asch’s original work1 describing impression formation and management in face-to-face (FtF) settings, substantial additional research has addressed impression formation in FtF environments. Research indicates that the medium of communication may significantly influence the attributions that students make and the impressions they form regarding their teachers and the instructional process. Particularly for students new to instruction via technology, these impressions may have much to do with their satisfaction and their subsequent learning behaviors. In most FtF classrooms, skilled teachers endeavor to promote attributions by students that will facilitate the instructional process (and their subsequent evaluations). Impression formation and development has also become an important topic in CMC.2 Based on our research and teaching experience, we recommend a variety of impression management strategies for online instructors and others engaged in CMC.