Class policies tell you what to expect in the classroom, online or not. It’s just as important to be clear about privacy and respect, especially in an online setting.
Privacy
Social Science classes often touch on personal topics. Students may share situations or events from their own lives that relate to the coursework, but should keep them private. If a student or instructor shares something personal, everyone in the class should treat it as private. The only exception is when someone’s safety or well-being is at risk.
Privacy and confidentiality are not the same thing. College administrators have the right to view course content, including discussion board posts. Your posts are private in the sense that they should stay within the class, but they are visible to everyone in it: other students, your instructor, the department chair, and some administrators. Staff rarely check postings unless there’s a specific reason, but it does happen.
Respect
Everyone in this class is at a different stage of learning. Some students have firm opinions. Others are still working theirs out. Some are just starting to connect what they’re learning to what they already know, and to find the words for it. Keep every comment respectful. Don’t mock or talk down to your classmates. Disrespectful communication can lead to disciplinary action.
Match your language to the setting. This isn’t a chat room. Write professionally: use correct grammar, check your spelling, and get to the point. Online communication leaves a lot of room for misreading. You don’t have tone of voice or facial expressions to guide you, so write clearly.
Don’t assume you know what someone meant. If a post confuses or bothers you, ask the person directly instead of guessing at their intent. These are new skills for most people. Be patient with your classmates while everyone learns them.
How to Behave Online
Online courses strip away body language, posture, tone of voice, and facial expressions. Keep these points in mind to keep communication smooth between you, your classmates, and your instructor.
- Watch your tone.
Written words get misread easily. Before you post something pointed, read it back and ask whether a stranger might take offense. Skip humor and sarcasm; they rarely translate well in text. Stay matter-of-fact and professional. - Stay on topic.
Online courses already involve heavy reading. Keep your posts short and direct so your point doesn’t get buried. Don’t introduce new topics in someone else’s thread; it derails the discussion. - Read before you write.
Check what other students and your instructor have already posted before you comment. This saves everyone from repeated points and already-answered questions. - Reread before you send.
You can’t unsend a post. Check your writing before you hit submit to make sure it says what you mean. - Treat it like a classroom, because it is one.
The format changed, not the standards. Respect your classmates and instructor the way you would in person. - Learn the norms of online writing.
Don’t type in all caps; it reads as shouting. Emoticons like 🙂 or 🙁 can help convey tone, but don’t overuse them. - Protect others’ privacy.
Ask before you share a classmate’s email address or any other personal information. - Keep attachments small.
If you need to send images, resize them to around 100k. - Keep it appropriate.
Don’t forward virus warnings, chain letters, or jokes to your classmates or instructor. Never share pornographic material.