Netiquette

Online Etiquette Best Practices

Below are a few common rules of netiquette that all of us—whether students or instructors—should abide by when engaging with one another in a virtual space. The rules apply both in a synchronous environment—where participants interact face-to-face in real-time, such as in a Zoom meeting—or in an asynchronous environment—where participants do not interact in real-time and can complete work at their own discretion, such as with a discussion or Padlet post.

We encourage faculty to review these basic principles and recommend sharing these tips with your students.

Providing synchronous instruction to your students undoubtedly means you will be using a virtual meeting room like Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet. When interacting in these spaces:

Test your tech before you log on. Computers break and Internet connections fail. That is why you should always test your tech prior to entering a virtual meeting space. Testing will afford the opportunity to find a work around or resolve an issue before it can cause a problem in your class. If you are an instructor, make sure you have a backup plan, either in the form of a different device (in the case of a hardware failure) or a different platform (in the event of a software failure).
Turn your camera on whenever possible; always look directly into the camera when speaking. Visual cues are important in physical interactions; they are equally important when we interact virtually. For this reason, you should keep your camera on whenever possible while participating in an online meeting, and always look directly into the camera when speaking.
Mute yourself when not speaking. In a physical classroom, we all hear the same ambient noise. In a virtual environment, the ambient noise is the background soundtrack found in each and every physical place that each and every individual participant is occupying. This is exceedingly distracting for everyone in the virtual meeting, so remember to mute yourself when not speaking.
Choose your work environment carefully. Remember, you are on camera. Avoid messy or distracting backgrounds. Never place your device below eye level and always ensure that there are no bright light sources—such as windows—directly behind you.
Dress appropriately. Again, you are on camera. If you would refrain from wearing a certain outfit or article of clothing in public, do not wear that outfit or article of clothing when interacting with others online. The Internet is a public sphere where you can observe the actions of others, and where others can observe you; make sure to dress accordingly.
Use non-verbal communication tools. Most virtual meeting platforms include tools for non-verbal communication, such as chat, feedback emojis, stop or slow down signs, and a raise-your-hand function. Use these tools to get the attention of the host or others in the meeting—they can be less obtrusive than simply unmuting yourself and interrupting.
Do not record without express permission. The right to privacy does not end where cyberspace begins. Recording a meeting or virtual interaction without express permission to do so is a blatant violation of privacy. Always inform meeting participants that you will be recording if you are the meeting host. If you are a participant, never record without the express permission of the host and other participants. This applies equally to recording using an external device—holding your mobile phone up to your screen and recording is dishonest behavior.
Do not post recordings without express permission. Recordings can live forever on the Internet; they can also be manipulated or taken out of context, and have the potential to negatively impact a participant’s life or livelihood. If you plan on posting a recording or Brightspace, Youtube, or Padlet, ask for permission before you do.
Maintain civility in the chat. Just because the chat is a text-based space does not mean the rules of netiquette are suspended. Remember, chat is a part of the Internet’s public sphere—what you say here is visible to others. Always follow this simple rule: if you would not say it out loud or to someone’s face, do not type it into chat. You should also not take for granted that “private” chats are always private; there is always a way for others to see them.
Be professional. Show up on time for virtual meetings and do not slip away after a few minutes. You are not anonymous or invisible in cyberspace—others will notice your tardiness or observe your early departure. Teams, Zoom, and other virtual meeting platforms keep track of how much time you spend in any one room—information that is readily available to the meeting host.

Asynchronous instruction is, of course, weighted heavily toward written or recorded oral communication—communication that, by design, does not involve face-to-face interaction. Nevertheless, the same basic principles of netiquette apply and should govern what and how we write.

Be active in an asynchronous environment. Though asynchronous instruction does not involve face-to-face interaction, it nevertheless involves interacting with others. To get the most of an asynchronous learning environment you need to be active—participate in the discussion boards (if you’re a faculty member, engage with your students; if you’re a student, engage with your classmates/professors); comment on assignments. In short, make sure you are as present as you can be.
Choose your work environment carefully. Find a quiet place to work, just as you would in a synchronous class, and dedicate a block of time to completing coursework, just as you would in a synchronous instruction.
Maintain civility. Just because a discussion board post or response to an asynchronous assignment takes a written or recorded oral form does not mean the rules of netiquette are suspended. Remember, any communication is a part of the Internet’s public sphere—what you say here is visible to others. Always follow this simple rule: if you would not say it out loud or to someone’s face, do not write it in a discussion board or record it as part of an oral assignment.
Write or speak clearly and with a purpose. Effective written or oral communication is essential. Since the individuals you are interacting with asynchronously cannot see your facial expressions (and hear you in the case of written comments), and therefore cannot see (or hear) your intent, you must weigh your choice of words and phrases carefully. Remember, in an asynchronous environment, the written or recorded word acts as your surrogate. If you would not represent yourself in-person in a certain manner, make sure you are not representing yourself that way in a written response or recorded assignment.
Proofread or listen before you submit; think critically about what you’re saying. Again, effective written or oral communication is essential. Perform a spell check, make sure there are no grammatical errors, and take a moment to once again confirm that what you’ve written conveys your intent. If you are submitting an oral recording, listen to it once or twice before hitting the submit button. Is your voice clear? Are there distracting noises in the background? Does your recording convey the ideas you meant to impart? If not, re-record your response.
When writing, avoid ALL CAPS. Using all capital letters implies a shout or aggressive tone—in order to maintain civility, all caps are best avoided.
When recording the spoken word, speak clearly, don’t rush, and emphasize your meaning with your tone. Remember, your recording is your surrogate. Those you are communicating with asynchronously cannot see you and therefore cannot take cues from your facial expressions. Speaking clearly and at a moderate pace will help your listeners follow what you are saying. Your tone will also assist in getting your meaning across; don’t be afraid to place an emphasis where necessary.
Be professional. Submit your written or recorded oral responses in a timely manner. Time does not operate any differently in cyberspace—others will notice that your work was not turned in on time, even if you try your hardest to disguise it. Brightspace, TurnitIn, and other commonly used platforms place a time stamp on your work, and will alert your professors when you turn in your assignments late.