Expected when you communicate with both your peers and your instructors. These guidelines for online behavior and interaction are known as netiquette. They are provided as advice for best practices for online engagement in your courses.
- Respect the privacy of your classmates and what they share in their assignments.
- Do not make personal or insulting remarks. Find a more productive way to challenge your classmates' ideas if you disagree with them.
- Ask classmates for clarification if you find a discussion posting offensive or difficult to understand.
- Avoid sweeping generalizations. Back up your stated opinions with facts and reliable sources.
- Understand that we may disagree and that exposure to other people’s opinions is part of the learning experience.
- Be respectful of each other. We’re all in this together. Before posting a comment, ask whether you would be willing to make the same comment to a person’s face.
- Keep in mind that you are taking a college class. Something that would be inappropriate in a traditional classroom is also inappropriate in an online classroom.
- Remember that all college level communication should have correct spelling and grammar. Tip: Start in Word or Google Docs. and use the spell and grammar check.
- Be careful with humor, sarcasm, acronyms (LOL) and emoticons (smiles). All can easily be misunderstood!
- Netiquette also suggests you avoid slang terms such as “wassup?” and texting abbreviations such as “u” instead of “you”.
- Be careful with personal information (both yours and others).
- Use a descriptive subject line and don’t forget to sign your message with your name?
- Be aware that typing in all capital letters indicates shouting.