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Student Resources

Online Etiquette (Netiquette)

Please follow the provided tips to interact through email, discussion forums, and other media.

  • Respect others and their opinions. In online learning, students from various backgrounds come together to learn. It is important to respect their feelings and opinions though they may differ from yours in ideological, religious, or environmental perspective.

  • Consider others’ privacy. Ask for permission if you want to forward someone’s email messages to third parties.
  • Pick the right tone. Since we depend on the written word in online learning, it’s especially important to choose the right words to get your meaning across. For example, sarcasm is harder to detect when you read the words rather than hearing them. It’s also why slang, such as LOL (laugh out loud), get used online.
  • Use emoticons. You can make up for the lack of non-verbal cues partially by inserting emoticons. Use them to make ambiguous writing more clear. Use them in appropriate situations where they clarify statements, but avoid overusing them. And, you are best off if you use the most common ones which everyone understands. Learn more about emoticons at http://www.windweaver.com/emoticon.htm.
  • Keep your writing to the point. Say what you want to express in clear writing. Mention your topic in the subject line of email or discussion forums and in the first sentence of each paragraph
  • Keep attachments as small as possible. If you want to share attached documents or pictures with others, change them to an acceptable size (100K). However, if the teacher gives you a special assignment that will include a lot of material (i.e. more than 100K), then feel free to exceed that size.

  • Review your writing. Ensure that you really want to post your contribution. For example, let input sit overnight when written in anger.
  • Stay on topic. Discuss topics that are related to your specific course topic. Don't wander into Third World politics when your class is on modern art.
  • Avoid Inappropriate material. Distribution of pornographic material will result in disciplinary action.

Learn more about communication netiquette at: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/book/index.html.