10 Etiquette Tips For An Online Course

In this uncertain economic climate, businesses are becoming more cautious during the hiring process; a certain level of previous experience is useful, but a degree from a college or university is quickly becoming a requirement for employment. Tuition and college expenses can be daunting and some students find it hard to schedule classes around work or family issues. Online classes have become a popular outlet for these types of situations, providing a quality education on a less restrictive time schedule. When enrolling in an online course, there is a common etiquette that should be considered:

1.) Participation — unlike classroom settings, you can’t just “show up” and expect to pass the class. An online class is a community, and as such all are expected to participate. Discussion posts, opinions and feedback should be thoughtful and well-articulated so that everyone can enjoy a fun learning experience.

2.) Procrastination — do not wait until the last minute to do your work! Taking an online course means working with technology, and sometimes it can fail you. Work ahead of schedule so that any problems can be taken directly to the instructor for help, without losing time.

3.) Sharing — ideas, opinions and experiences should be shared with the whole community. Classmates may post questions on the Discussion Board, which you may be able to answer. Don’t keep information to yourself; in a community, everyone works together for the good of the whole.

4.) Proofread - before you press the SEND button, think about what you have written; you can’t take it back! A response to a classmate, a discussion post, an email to the instructor, make sure that you have said what you meant and that you mean what you said!

5.) Express — classmates and teachers cannot “see you”, so you have to be clear. Sarcasm, concern and other emotions are lost in an online environment if there is not enough information to back the statement up.

6.) Feedback — give feedback to your classmates and be open to theirs. Online classes function best when everyone is involved in the learning process.

7.) Respect — do not put down anyone’s ideas or thoughts, also state your own opinion in a way that is not hostile or overwhelming. Respect your classmates and they will respect you!

8.) Caution - be careful about statements that may come off as derogatory, racist or inappropriate for the classroom setting. If you wouldn’t say it in person, don’t say it online.

9.) Cheating - treat the class like an in-room course. Do not cheat, it only hurts your learning opportunities.

10.) Work hard! — to get the most out of it, you’ve got to put your best into it! Work hard and achieve results!