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UWI Open Campus Forum Netiquette Guide

The UWI Open Campus provides netiquette guidelines for participating in course discussion forums, emphasizing the importance of active engagement and respectful communication. Key recommendations include posting concise and relevant comments, proofreading for errors, and avoiding the use of all caps or unclear abbreviations. Participants are encouraged to read previous postings and maintain a courteous tone, while also being mindful of the impact of their words in written communication.

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6 views1 page

UWI Open Campus Forum Netiquette Guide

The UWI Open Campus provides netiquette guidelines for participating in course discussion forums, emphasizing the importance of active engagement and respectful communication. Key recommendations include posting concise and relevant comments, proofreading for errors, and avoiding the use of all caps or unclear abbreviations. Participants are encouraged to read previous postings and maintain a courteous tone, while also being mindful of the impact of their words in written communication.

Uploaded by

Isaeli Gonzalez
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

UWI Open Campus

Netiquette Guidelines1

Your participation in course discussion forums contributes to your learning. The course
forums are where you can engage your e-tutor to explore your course content, and they
are where you interact with, and get to know, your fellow students. Participate actively,
using your readings and your own examination of relevant issues to inform your
postings. Each of you has a unique perspective that your colleagues would like to know
more about.

Guidelines for using course forums

 Whenever possible, pose your questions and comments about the course in the
Tutor-Student forum, or the relevant weekly forum, so that your colleagues, who
may have similar questions and comments, can benefit.
 Keep your postings concise and to the point. Brevity can save precious time, for
both the writer and the reader.
 Keep your postings courteous. Always respect your colleague's point of view.
 There may be many topics on the Forums. Before you post, check that you have
selected the topic you really want to post to.
 Read previous postings carefully. This will help you to avoid repeating a point
that has already been made, as well as help you to phrase your contribution in a
way that is relevant to the current discussion. This will also help you to avoid
starting a new thread unnecessarily.
 When starting a new ‘topic’, use the subject line to clearly identify the topic of
your initial post. This helps other students to determine the general content of
your posting, and the related thread, before they open it.
 Always proofread your questions and comments carefully for spelling and
grammar mistakes before posting. One small 'typo' can cause your message to
be misunderstood.
 Use conventional style and language in your postings. Typing in capital letters in
electronic communications, for example, indicates anger. Try to avoid using
abbreviations (like b/c and LOL) because these may not be clearly understood by
your peers.
 Don't be discouraged if someone questions your contribution. They are asking
because they are interested, not to be critical. Explain or reiterate your point of
view and keep the discussion going.
 Postings, like the spoken word, cannot be retracted. If you are angry or upset,
don't respond to a post immediately. Waiting 24 hours might give you a different
perspective.
 Avoid cutting and pasting other people’s words into a forum. Make your postings
in your own words. If you do use a brief quotation, reference your source
properly.
 A little humour is fine, but if in doubt leave it out. The written word is much more
problematic than the spoken word in this area, and the most innocuous
comments are sometimes misinterpreted.

1
Source: Adapted from material prepared for the Master’s in Regulation and Policy (Telecommunications) Programme,
UWI.

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