The technology does not mask the need for appropriate communication skills. The virtual community is dependent upon the effective use of email. Prior to becoming part of an on-line community it is the students responsibility to become facile in the tools of the trade. Using email to its best advantage requires a level of trust between and instructor and the students. The instructor depends on the students to accurately describe what is happening in the learning process.
Students are dependent upon the instructor to provide guidance in how to use the process.
An effective method to assess the on-line classroom is to present each student with an assessment instrument. This method has been put in place at many universities. An on-line questionnaire is given to every student interested in taking a virtual course. This document assesses the students email skills and writing skills. It also gathers demographic data specific to the amount of time the student can devote to the on-line community, other time constraint issues, and their objective in taking the course.