UT Tyler Student Resource
for Blended and Online Courses
Netiquette
Importance of Netiquette
Netiquette is, simply, Internet etiquette, or a set of expectations that describe appropriate behaviors when interacting online. It is important to understand that, in the online environment, you will be held to the exact same standards of UT Tyler's face-to-face courses. In fact, for 100% online courses, your online classroom behavior may be the only interaction you have with your faculty and classmates, therefore making your netiquette even more important. Remember, you only get to make a first impression once, irrespective of the course delivery method.
- Be courteous.
- You only get one chance for an online first impression. Make it count. Do not say or do anything in an online classroom that you would not do in a face-to-face classroom. This includes not "YELLING" (typing in all caps), not "flaming" (attacking someone, such as insults and name-calling), and/or not dominating the discussion.
- Be human.
- Remember there is another person on the other side of the screen. Remain patient, ask and wait for clarification if you do not understand something, and avoid assumptions and rushed judgments. Forgive mistakes, and apologize for your own errors.
- Be a good classmate.
- Remember your own role as a student. Follow your instructor's directions at all times. Be authentic and collaborative with fellow students. Be aware of cyberbullying and make every attempt to eliminate it. Appreciate the diversity and different communication styles of your peers. Remember, since this class is online, you may have classmates from all over the world.
- Be professional.
- Proofread your own writing for spelling, grammar, and punctuation to prevent miscommunication. Avoid slang, sarcasm, or emotionally-charged writing, as tone can be difficult to translate online. Profanity and offensive language will not be tolerated. Do not use abbreviations (2moro, 2T, B@U) or emotions in your online class unless your professor approves and supports such writing styles.
- Be a responsible digital citizen.
- What you post online is difficult to retract once it is published. What you post online can follow you for your lifetime. Do not share personal information you would never want public, and respect other people's privacy. Do not share someone else's work without their permission.