Netiquette Guidelines

Most of our communication is through the written word. With the absence of verbal communication and body language, our intention may be misconstrued because the tone is not heard or facial expression is not seen. We might think that online communication is common sense, but it is not always common practice. It is important to follow a few rules when interacting with your instructor and fellow classmates.

Respect others. Minding your manners in an online classroom is one of the keys to being a successful learner. Do not post, comment, or send anything that you would not be willing to communicate in a face-to-face classroom. Remember, there is a person on the other end receiving your message. Always be kind and courteous.

Play fair. Not everyone has the same experience using computers or social networking sites. It is important to maintain an even playing field and be professional. The use of emoticons is commonly used to convey emotions in the written word. An emoticon is a sequence of typed characters that create a facial expression or picture. For example, a smiley face looks like this :) and a wink looks like this ;) Tilt your head to the left to read the characters as a face. Do not write something derogatory and end it with a wink symbol. This is unacceptable behavior that is open to misinterpretation.

In online communication, one can easily send a signal that is not consistent with their intention. Some of us use mobile phones to send text messages and use shorthand and abbreviations to write something quickly. Please do not use acronyms or net lingo in your writing. Not everyone knows what you may be abbreviating. LOL might mean laughing out loud to one person and lots of love to another. See how easily it can be misconstrued? Remember to keep your online writing clear and concise. Don't B 2 laZ 2 type!

Share the wealth. Being polite and courteous enriches us on both a personal and professional level. Thomas So well once wrote, Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back. Let's share the wealth by investing in the rules of netiquette!

Do's

  • Think before you write
  • Respect other’s opinions
  • Be courteous and kind
  • Act like you would when communicating in person
  • Use emoticons sparingly
  • Use proper grammar and punctuation
  • Spell-check
  • Be professional
  • Read and reread your message before posting

Don’ts

  • Never use ALL CAPS - this means you are shouting
  • Avoid acronyms or shorthand text
  • Do not attack others
  • Never use profanity
  • Avoid sarcasm

Remember the Golden Rule: When in doubt, do not post or send it.

Online Courtesy Policy

Extreme consideration for the feelings of others is expected. Your fellow online students and I can’t see you smile and won’t know that you are joking. Do not tell people they are stupid or wrong. Do explain why you believe differently. If someone has the facts wrong, direct them to the source of accurate information or politely offer your alternative “facts.” Use of profanity or direct insults which defame a person’s character, race, ethnicity, religion, etc. are inappropriate and will not be tolerated. Such abuses will result in expulsion from the course after one warning. I ask that you all be courteous and polite and remember the rules of Netiquette.

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