GTCC Netiquette Guidelines for Students
This is NOT the Netiquette information for the Netiquette Quiz.
Click HERE for that reading
Please help your instructors create and maintain a respectful atmosphere that is conducive for learning.
This is how you can help:
1. Address your classmates and instructors by name in course communication (such as e-mails, discussions
posts). For example: "Hi Ms. Smith, I have a question" . . . or "Bubba, I like your answer to that
question." This shows that you recognize the person at the other end of the communication.
2. Assume that your instructor prefers to be referred to in more formal terms, unless told otherwise (i.e.,
Professor Smith, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Davis).
3. Remember to identify yourself in e-mail (first and last name) as well as the class/section you're in,
such as “CIS-110-FJW01”, so your professor can identify you for a response.
4. Stay away from posting anything illegal, harassing, sexually suggestive, or inflammatory on your personal
profile, blog, or the course discussion boards. This includes posting racy photos and using curse words, no
matter how "mild”, and religious, racial, sexual, or ethnic epithets. Your comments should relate to course
content and not try to influence your classmates to your political, social, or religious beliefs or values.
These are academic courses, not MySpace. If instructors see something that they think might offend others,
they might remove it or ask you to remove it. If it happens again, you might be referred to the Dean of
Students for appropriate disciplinary action. If you aren't sure about something, talk to your instructor
about it. They will be happy to help you determine if something is appropriate or not before you post it.
5. Follow the rules and conventions of Standard English—correct spelling and grammar. This makes
communication clear for everyone, in addition to showing respect for the academic environment and those from
other backgrounds.
6. Demonstrate an acute awareness of purpose and audience. For example, if you have a question about a
grade, ask your instructor about it rather than make demands or threats. Think about what you want from your
instructor or your classmates before you send an angry e-mail or make an angry discussion post.
7. Use normal capitalization. Typing in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS is the Internet equivalent of yelling at
someone. Don’t do it in e-mail or in the discussion boards. Also typing messages in all lower case makes
your message difficult to read. Use capitalization for the first word in a sentence and your name.
8. Discuss personal matters, grades, and policy matters with instructors via e-mail, Pronto, over the phone,
or in their offices, not in the course discussion boards. Refrain from posting complaints, rants, or
problems about the course or your life in the discussion board. Please consider the topic and the delicate
nature of the situation as you chose which medium you plan to use. Some topics are best discussed with a
phone call or face-to-face visit.
9. Don't spam your classmates or instructor with e-mail advertisements or solicitations either through
Moodle or their e-mail accounts. Students in this course have the same right to privacy as others. Also,
please do not add classmates or instructors to e-mail lists for jokes, horoscopes, religious materials,
commercial information, or anything else that does not relate to class work.
10. Don't allow anyone access to this or any other online course through your account. Make sure you log out
when using public computers. Allowing anyone (parents, friends, spouses, etc.) to access the course or see
other students' work violates federal privacy laws--please don't do it.
12/11 DGB
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