Critical ThinkingThe distance learning environment creates a multitude of challenges that students or instructors do not face in a physical classroom. A controversial topic might be that people fail to express their emotions effectively online. Online environments are also tricky to have interactions and establish a presence. But is it really like that? It's hard to show emotion online or be present; however, it is not impossible. These topics will be discussed below. Showing Emotions Online Emotion plays an important role in the learning environment (Cleveland-Innes & Campbell, 2012). Educational psychologists believe that motivation, achievement, and overall academic performance have a direct correlation with human emotions (Cleveland-Innes & Campbell, 2012). This statement alone reflects the significant role that emotions play in education. There is a great need for human emotions to be displayed in the educational environment and it does not matter whether it is a physical classroom or an online learning environment; emotion must and does play a role. Our emotions are evident through the work that is presented and the discussions that students and instructors have with each other. For example, positive emotions can lead to positive results on papers or tests; negative emotions can do just the opposite, leading to negative outcomes (Cleveland-Innes & Campbell, 2012). Learning outcomes are the direct result of students' emotions, so both teachers and students can actually see each other's emotions in an online learning environment. In many online institutions, one of the topics discussed is the tone used when writing... in the middle of a sheet of paper... failure for students and fatal damage to the institution's reputation. To summarize, yes, these three topics are quite possible and should be used in the online learning environmentWorks CitedCleveland-Innes, M., & Campbell, P. (2012). Emotional presence, learning, and the online learning environment. The International Review of Research on Open and Distance Learning, 13(4). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1234/2333Ley, K. (2006). Being there virtually: establishing a social presence. Retrieved from http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/Resource_library/proceedings/06_4392.pdfWoods, R.H., & Baker, J.D. (2004). Interaction and immediacy in online teaching. The International Review of Research on Open and Distance Learning, 5(2). Retrieved from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/viewArticle/186/268