Protocols
The following ground rules will help your work in this course to go much more smoothly. Please carefully review these expectations and follow them.
Reading Assignments
Keep up with the reading schedule as best as you can. Reading one another's timely discussion posts will help everyone get the most out of this online format.
E-mail will be an integral part of this course. Make sure you:
- Check your e-mail at least twice per week (more often is better).
- Be patient. Don’t expect an immediate response when you send a message. Generally, two days is considered reasonable amount of time to receive a reply.
- Include “Subject” headings: use something that is descriptive and refers to a particular assignment or topic.
- Be courteous and considerate. Being honest and expressing yourself freely is very important, but being considerate of others online is just as important as in the classroom.
- Make every effort to be clear. Online communication lacks the nonverbal cues that fill in much of the meaning in face-to-face communication.
- Do not use all caps. This makes the message very hard to read and is considered “shouting.” Check spelling, grammar, and punctuation (you may want to compose in a word processor, then cut and paste the message into the discussion or e-mail).
- Break up large blocks of text into paragraphs and use a space between paragraphs.
- Never assume that your e-mail can be read by no one except yourself; others may be able to read or access your mail. Never send or keep anything that you would not mind seeing on the evening news.
Note: Review the Netiquette and Viruses section below
Discussion Topics
Many of the “rules of the road” or protocols that apply to e-mail also apply to the use of Discussions. Use the following conventions when composing a Discussion posting:
- During a Discussion assignment, deadlines for posting to and replying will be specified with each assignment. It is a good practice to always check the Discussions multiple times during the week.
- If you want to send a personal message to the facilitator or to another student, use e-mail rather than the discussions (see above E-mail Protocols).
- Use the appropriate Discussion Topic; don’t post everything on the “Main” Discussion Topic.
- Be patient. Don’t expect an immediate response when you send a message.
- A helpful hint for use with both discussions and email — Compose your message in your word-processing application in order to check spelling, punctuation, and grammar — then copy and paste your composition into email or the discussion. This also saves online time.
- Everyone should feel free to participate in class and online discussions. Regular and meaningful discussion postings constitute a substantial portion of your grade.
- Respect each other’s ideas, feelings and experience.
- Be courteous and considerate. It is important to be honest and to express yourself freely, but being considerate of others is just as important and expected online, as it is in the classroom.
- Explore disagreements and support assertions with data and evidence. Disrespectful and rude comments will not be tolerated.
- “Subject” headings: use something that is descriptive and refer to a particular assignment or discussion topic when applicable. Some assignments will specify the subject heading.
- Avoid postings such as “I agree,” “I don’t know either,” “Who cares,” or “ditto.” They do not add to the discussion and only take up space on the discussion board.
- Avoid posting large blocks of text. If you must, break them into paragraphs and use a space between paragraphs.
- Contact the identified staff member or the instructor for assistance with technical issues.
Note: Review the Netiquette, Viruses and Technical Resources sections below.
Netiquette
“Netiquette” has evolved to aid us in infusing our electronic communications with some of these missing behavioral pieces. “Emoticons” and other tools have become popular and I encourage their use when it will add to the clarity of your communication.
= happy, pleased
= sad, displeased
:-O = surprised
>:-| = angry
Abbreviate when possible. Examples:
- LOL = laugh out loud, “I find this funny”
- ROFL = rolling on floor laughing, really funny
- BTW = by the way
- *grin* = smiling
- FYI: for your info
Netiquette continues to evolve and I am sure that we will have constant additions to this growing language. The important thing to remember is that all of the “cute” symbols in the world cannot replace your careful choice of words and “tone” in your communication.
Viruses
A virus can spell disaster. Your use of a reputable anti-virus program is highly recommended for participation in this course (good ones include McAfee or Norton).
Also, back up your files: “My hard drive crashed,” “My modem doesn’t work,” and “My printer is out of ink.” These are today’s equivalents of “My dog ate my homework.” And these events really do occur and they are inconvenient when they do. However, these are not valid excuses for failing to get your work in on time.