Mind personal space
How does it make you feel when you ride in an elevator that is full of squeezing in close to you? Different cultures and different settings use the concept of personal space differently. Personal space is simply the distance between you and someone else in which you feel comfortable talking or interacting. It’s different for different people and in different settings.
Think about the personal space between a teacher and student when they are working together. It may be a tutoring or homework help session. That’s very similar to being a Digital Ambassador with you in the role of the teacher. You should be aware of personal space and whether the person you’re working with has any specific wishes or requests. Some cultures treat personal space differently. Know what your adult learner is comfortable with.
Be sure that the people you are helping are also respectful of your boundaries. If you ever feel uncomfortable, let your teacher or team coordinator know.
Review the spaces where you will be working with your adult learners. A larger communal space separated by tables or desks may be appropriate as it is public and your team leader can monitor the room. You should never go to an individual’s private quarters if you are working in a residential facility. Anyone who has a technology question about a device in their room, which can happen, should be referred to your team coordinator or someone from the facility.
Modeling Distance
There are times when you will want to model or practice communicating at a distance. Many adult learners may have questions about video or webconferencing with family or friends, and that can be difficult to model when you’re sitting next to each other. In these cases, determine whether you can set up on opposite sides of a room, or in two separate but nearby rooms. That way, you can still visually connect with your adult learner while you practice Zooming or Facetime or whatever.