As a writer, my personal connection to language, especially its uses and conveyed meanings, is of exceptional importance to me. Among Gover's ideas that stood out: "narrative individualism presumes a correspondence view of language. That is, narrative individualism presumes a one-to-one standing, an identity, between the words I use and that which my words are presumed to represent, whether such signification be of internal ideas or external objects. From this perspective, again, language is a transparent medium, a container for the safe transport of ideas" (from The Narrative Emergence of Identity, see reference below).

In our online, virtual classrooms, all facilitators and learners have to convey themselves, their identities, and their experience is language, narrative. The idea that our identities must be and are conveyed by the medium of words is important. Yet, the idea that language is a transparent medium misses the mark. It's a great assumption that language is transparent. We frequently convey meaning into words by perception or concept that isn't actually in the words expressed. We also apply our own knowledge and experience to the words of others, sometimes arriving at false assumptions about those words and ideas.

In physical classrooms, it's easier to understand the meanings of the words used because of body language. It's impossible to see an online student roll their eyes, ball up their fists, or cross their arms and close themselves off from new information and ideas. This lack of physical presence, of seeing and hearing others can often be the greatest challenge for those new to the online classrooms setting.

It's therefore important during online classroom discussions to think before we hit that submit button. Some questions to ask:

• Have I been clear?
  
• Will others understand the meaning of what I've written?
  
• Does that joke I included come across as a joke?

Remember, in our online classrooms, all we have is our words, our written narrative. We must choose our words carefully so that those sharing the classroom understand what we intend and see our identity as it is.