Netiquette

What makes communicating online different 

than communicating face-to-face?

Communicating online frequently has a longer time between a question and a response.  

It also prevents you from expressing or seeing and hearing another person's meaning through facial expressions and body language or vocal emphasis.  

This can lead to misunderstandings and other communication problems  

Misunderstandings can affect your grades.

Online communication is about writing and understanding effectively.

It is more than just exchanging information. It’s about understanding the intentions and emotions behind the information. 

Its important to write in a way that gives the other person the full meaning of what you are saying.  

Then you need to understand what they are saying to you. 

Speak Up

If you are in a class that meets using video, if you have a question, concern, comment, or suggestion make sure you speak up.  Just like you would raise your hand in a traditional classroom.

Participate, Participate, Participate

The most successful online students logon to their classroom each day to complete learning activities.  Procrastinating makes your work pile up.

Keep an Eye on Word Count

Your instructor sometimes will provide specific guidelines for the length of an assignment and response.  Try to stay within these guidelines.  Create it in Word first, click "Review" and "Word Count."

Communicate Your Feedback

When asked, it is beneficial to everyone to be open and honest when providing feedback.  Providing examples can be helpful.

Be Polite

Always be polite.  Making jokes can seem to be a good idea, but they can be easily misunderstood without noticing your body language and tone of voice.

Have Someone Read Your Response

If you are unsure about the appropriateness of your response, have someone you know who does this well read your response before you submit it.