Netiquette

You’ve probably heard the term netiquette before. Netiquette is the rules of common courtesy that we follow online.
ACCESS has a full netiquette policy in the ACCESS Student Policy Manual. Take a second to read it.

Netiquette Policy

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Netiquette Expectations

Most of you have communicated online before. However, class communications follow different rules than Instagram and SnapChat. Here are the netiquette expectations for ACCESS courses.

  1. Remember that real people read your messages and comments. Do not say anything that you would not say in person.
  2. Use proper grammar and capitalization. Proofread before submitting. Avoid using abbreviations and foul language.
  3. Avoid using all capital letters. Though some people use all caps to show excitement, it can be seen as shouting. Instead, to emphasize something, use bold.
  4. Don’t expect instant responses from classmates and teachers. They may not be online at the same time as you.
  5. Remember that your teacher and classmates cannot see your face or hear your tone of voice. Be careful when using humor and sarcasm.

Your posts and messages in ACCESS represent YOU. Be the best version of yourself in all ways possible. Go the extra mile to be a great member of your ACCESS course.

"Netiquette" by Jaimie Hoffman is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 / A derivative from the original work

Effective Communication

What are some keys to effective communication by messaging?

First, check for messages from your teacher daily. This should be part of your routine when you log into Schoology every day. Check your Updates, and then check your messages, especially if you have just asked a question. Teachers will respond to messages within 24-48 hours at most.

Second, give a descriptive subject line in your messages. If you are asking a question about an assignment, include the assignment name in the subject line.

Third, be as specific as possible in your messages. If you say, “I don’t understand the lesson,” your teacher may have to email you back and forth several times to give help. If you say, “I don’t understand how many paragraphs my essay should be,” your teacher can help right away.

Finally, message your teacher frequently. Even if you are doing well, message at least once a week. Take the time to reach out to them. If you get to know your teacher, it will be easier to ask for help when you need it.

Tutorials - Messages

How to Create a Message

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How to Check Messages

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How to Message Members

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Attachments

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Tutorials – Discussions

Posting

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Replying

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Interacting Online

Online discussions are different from discussions in your face-to-face classroom. You won’t hear immediately from others on what they think about what you are saying. You will have to return to the discussion in a few days to see what everyone has to say.

Some of the differences are positive. Because you can answer when you want, you don’t have to respond to a tough question right away. You can take some time to think about why you disagree with a post. That may allow you to state your view more respectfully.

In online discussions, you will follow the same netiquette rules as for messages. The #1 rule is that real people read your posts and comments. Do not say anything that you would not say in person. Remember that according to the ACCESS Acceptable Use Policy, any inappropriate behavior, including cyberbullying, will not be tolerated.

You should also follow basic online privacy rules. Keep your identifying information private. This includes cell number, home address, and birthday – anything that is uniquely connected to you. And don’t post your Schoology username or password.

Online discussions will feel unusual at first. The more you participate, the more comfortable you will get.

Question

All of the following are good rules of netiquette EXCEPT

  1. Use proper grammar and capitalization.
  2. Use all capital letters.
  3. Avoid using foul language.
  4. Be careful of tone.

Answer: b. Use all capital letters. You should not use all-caps in email. Writing in all-caps can come across as angry.

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