In distance courses in particular, some instructors hold virtual office hours. When using course management systems such as Blackboard and Moodle, your professors can create class chat rooms. At appointed times, you may join your instructor and your peers in the online chat room and ask questions, request clarification, or comment on the class and the teaching material. Some of your professors may offer video chat-for example, by Skype.

Your Task. During virtual office hours, practice professional demeanor and courtesy. Your class is a workshop environment in which you are practicing appropriate workplace etiquette. Impress your instructor by following the guidelines in this chapter-for example, by offering a friendly, respectful greeting, introducing yourself, communicating clearly, writing correct prose, being an active participant in group meetings, providing and accepting constructive criticism, and exhibiting a positive can-do attitude. Plan your virtual visit as you would a professional phone conversation, also described in this chapter. Your instructor may give you informal feedback or decide to use a more formal assessment such as a performance appraisal.