Next Level Netiquette...How does Netiquette impact the college classroom?

With the advent of technology in education, colleges and universities have had to consider netiquette policies to address inappropriate online behavior in order to maintain the academic integrity of their institutions.  More and more students are completing online and blended learning undergraduate and graduate coursework, which requires that colleges spell out their expectations for online decorum in clear ways.

College students taking online courses or regular courses with elements of technology must be fully aware of their school's policies on netiquette in order to avoid violating said policies and potentially compromising their grades, scholarships, academic standing.

Some key points to remember when participating in online courses or when using technology in regular courses are as follows:

1. Previous Netiquette Rules Apply

Netiquette for all students continues to apply when a student enter undergraduate and graduate levels of education.  The stakes are much higher in post-secondary education, which means that students should adhere to "common sense" netiquette rules in order to avoid impropriety.  These rules include not yelling with ALL CAPS, thinking about how a message or email will sound to the person receiving the message, avoiding humor that may be misinterpreted, etc.

2. Be Cautious in online chats

Many college courses utilize chats among students in order to facilitate dialogue and collaboration.  These chats can easily become a breeding ground for unnecessary personal conversations, which is contrary to their original academic purpose.  Students should avoid using online course chats as social media outlet.  Professional decorum should be maintained at all times during these group chats.

3. Always use proper grammar and spelling

Students tend to get lax in their grammar and spelling the more comfortable they become with their colleagues and professors.  This tendency can be detrimental to their success in their courses as it demonstrates a lack of professionalism upon which many professors frown.  Professors will not attempt the interpret emails or discussion posts with misspellings and poor grammar.  Their response will simply be to give the student a poor grade.

These are just a few netiquette guidelines for college students to consider.  For more netiquette rules, please see the links below...

For more information: Click Here

Check out these videos as well...

So you want to go to college..what's your social media presence?

High School seniors across the country wait for the moment that their acceptance letters comes in the mail or via email.  Being accepted into a college or university of their choice would bring joy to any student.  The feelings of exuberance can and have been replaced with shock and dismay as the acceptance they held so dear is ripped away in an instant.  Why?  Because of social media.  Take a look at the following Video Clip to see what I mean...

The 10 students in the video, not taking heed of the rules of netiquette, payed the price for their poor social media judgement.  Whether you agree with Harvard's decision or not, the fact is that colleges and universities are taking the issue of social media appropriateness seriously.  Admissions officers, as representatives of the school, want to ensure that future students meet the moral standards espoused by the college or university, and that no applicants will mar the reputation of the school with a reckless social media presence.

In another real-world example of social media gone wrong, a student who applied to the University of Rochester posted her application status on her social media.  Representatives from her private school saw the post and realized that she had not requested any transcripts or even mentioned that she was applying to Univ. of Rochester.  Upon investigation it was uncovered that the student lied to the university and told them that she had been homeschooled.  She was subsequently dismissed from the university.  

As with anything in life, students need to understand that actions have consequences.  In the age of social media, where nothing is private and nothing can be truly erased, our comments, opinions and attitudes can be viewed, shared and exposed at any time.  The inappropriate rantings of high school students might have gone unnoticed before social media, but now those same rantings can have huge consequences for a student's future.  Students who practice netiquette will not have to worry that something they posted years before may come back to haunt them in the future.  It is better to err on the side of caution and conduct yourself professionally at all times.

          

For further information:Click Here

Do you practice proper Netiquette?

Before I get into the dos and don'ts of Netiquette, let's find out where you stand in terms of your Netiquette IQ...Please take the quiz below to see how much you already know about Netiquette

https://www.nku.edu/~rkdrury/experiment/netiquette_quiz.htm

How did you do?

As you can see, netiquette know-how can be tricky.  Here are some important things to remember about netiquette when online...

1. Show respect to others at all times

When emailing, posting, or otherwise engaged online, remember that everyone has feelings and opinions.  You don't have to necessarily agree with what others are saying, but it is good practice to show respect by not commenting if you have something negative to say.

                                       


2. Consider how your comments could be interpreted

WHEN YOU USE ALL CAPS IN AN EMAIL IT IS THE SAME AS YELLING AT SOMEONE!. This is a major don't!  It is important to consider how the person on the other end of your email or discussion post may interpret your message.  Even if you have the best intentions, little things like ALL CAPS or strong language can alter your original meaning and cause someone to misunderstand you.  When you are face-to-face, you have the benefit of nonverbal cues and facial expressions.  Online you don't have those options to enhance your communication skills, so consider what and how you say something before you say it.

                               


3. What you think is funny is probably not funny to someone else

Jokes are very difficult to convey properly while online.  You sense of humor may not translate without the help of face-to-face communication.  The recipient of your joke may not even realize that you are joking and may become offended if you are not careful.  When using emojis, be careful that the true meaning of the emoji matches your intent.  Some emojis have different meanings than you might think.



                              


4. You never know who's watching you online...

You have to remember that the Internet makes your private life very public.  Personal or sensitive information shared online can have drastic consequences for you socially and professionally.  Even if you restrict who can see your information, those with whom you communicate can share your information.  The bottom line: there is no privacy on the public Internet!


                               


5. Know the rules

Before joining a group discussion or social media network, read through the code of conduct carefully.  The rules are designed to protect users from each other and from themselves.  If you are familiar with these guidelines then you can avoid making troublesome mistakes online.

                           
                            

6. Everyone is human

Remember that just as you had to learn the rules of netiquette, those with whom you communicate online are probably learning as well.  Don't get too upset if you feel someone has offended you online.  Their meaning may have been misunderstood.  But if you think someone has intentionally been inappropriate, feel free to use reporting tools to flag that person's site or to bring attention to their misdeeds.

                               

Check out these videos about Netiquette...

                           

References:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-netiquette

https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/do-you-have-good-netiquette/

Why Netiquette?

Netiquette, or "Internet etiquette" is the proper way of conducting yourself while online.  Whether you are sending emails, participating in discussion forums or using social media, netiquette serves as rules or guidelines to prevent unfortunate confrontations or embarrassment as a result of writing or posting something inappropriate.

It is very easy to get lost in the anonymity of the Internet and social media.  We are alone in our homes or on our phones and we feel a sense of freedom to do or say whatever comes to mind.  We have to remember, however, that what we communicate online can have negative repercussions in the future.  Following netiquette guidelines while online can prevent someone from making costly online mistakes.

Netiquette involves paying attention to detail while online.  Spelling and grammar are essential to good online communication.  Being straightforward and to-the-point when communicating online is also important.  Netiquette teaches these skills and more.

Netiquette for students is extremely important in the 21st century as more and more students are using technology in their classrooms on a regular basis.  Students, unaware of the rules of netiquette, find themselves sinking deeper and deeper into the quagmire of improper online communication.  This lack of knowledge can lead to loss of friends, negatively affected grades and social humiliation that leaves a lasting impression among peers.

References: https://www.theclassroom.com/why-do-people-use-netiquette-12078439.html

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Jade Keith and I am a 10th grade World History teacher in Washington, DC.  I have been teaching for 15 years in middle and high schools.  My primary job, however, is that of a Mom to a 12-year old girl.  Over the years, I have seen the use of technology flourish in classroom across content areas.  I have also seen a rise in the improper use of technology and its impact on students and communities.  Technology offers so many educational benefits, but just like anything, its risks must be shared with users before they fall victim to the many possible pitfalls.  The purpose of this blog is to educate students, parents and teachers alike on NETIQUETTE.  It may seem like common sense, but netiquette is far from common.  The internet does not come with a users guide and many users do not have the skills to navigate such a vast and open network of possibilities without forgetting their manners.  Thank you for joining me on this journey towards bringing NETIQUETTE to the masses.