Netiquettes are web or net etiquette. Just as in a face to face discussion or conversation setting in a classroom, you are expected to adhere to a standard of protocols, and manners while having discussions with your peers and instructors in an online setting.
As often times, in an online conversations are text based, therefore we can not hear the tone of the voice, or see the gestures, and perhaps as a result there can be many miscommunications.
Here are some guidelines and protocols that you should keep in mind while partaking in a virtual asynchronous discussion or synchronous chat.
- As this is a formal classroom experience, all written communications should be devoid of acronyms, shortcut or text messaging language such as "omg, u r right, that is a gr8 idea". This may be used in the general chat area, which the instructor will typically label as "general discussion area" or "discussion cafe" etc and let you know that it is an area for students to have informal discussions.
- Always be sure to be respectful, and NEVER use negative, disrespectful or abusive language. If you do, you will be reprimanded.
- Use of Emoticons is encouraged when appropriate. It compensates the lack of visualizing conversational gestures in a text based discussion and may help clarify your feelings- But don't over do it.
- Keep the discussions short; don't get side tracked into an argument or go off topic. Discussions can go on forever, so once you have made your point and responded to a few others to clarify points, move on to the next discussion or assignment.
|