Speak Up!

Online courses go most smoothly if you participate in discussions and communicate with your classmates and instructor. Can't find a reading? Tell your instructor. Have an opinion about the topic you're discussing? Don't be afraid to share it! It's essential that you communicate to be successful in your online courses, however, it's important to remember that online many of the cues we use in face-to-face communication are missing, so our words can be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Netiquette is a set of expectations about how to present yourself online to make sure you are clearly understood.

Netiquette

Be professional.

You are preparing yourself to be a career professional, which will involve communicating online. Use your online courses to practice presenting your best self through your ideas and writing. Avoid slang, jargon or text-speak, and always proofread what you've written before you submit.

Be considerate.

Make sure your communications are meaningful and to the point. Be mindful of the time it takes to read, view or listen and respond to others online.

Be respectful.

Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. If you are upset or frustrated, keep this out of your communications with your fellow students or instructors. Provide adequate information when asking for help or assistance from your instructors or classmates. Protect other people's privacy.

Formality

The level of formality expected of you in your online courses may vary greatly. Some instructors may expect you to write as if you were speaking to your friends, while others may ask you to write more formally, like you're writing an essay. A good rule of thumb for communicating in your courses is to model your communication style after your instructor's.