We'd like to keep our conversations focused and easy to follow, and make it easier for us to collaborate, share knowledge, and support one another. To that end, we’ve put together a few ground rules to make the forum a useful, welcoming place for everyone. Ultimately, we’d like to create a sense of community around school connectivity—a space where people feel comfortable jumping in, asking questions and staying engaged.
Guidelines Summary:
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Remember the human. Treat others online as you would in real life. Behind every screen is a real person with feelings.
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Adhere to the same standards of behavior as in real life. Ethical standards should not be lower in the virtual world.
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Use proper language, grammar, and spelling. Professionalism is judged by the quality of your writing. Avoid slang, text shortcuts, and emoticons in formal discussions.
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Avoid "shouting" online. Typing in all capital letters is perceived as yelling and is considered bad form.
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Respect others' time and bandwidth. Keep messages concise, relevant to the topic, and use informative subject lines. Be mindful of sending large attachments without warning.
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Cite your sources. Give credit where it is due to avoid plagiarism. Do not post copyrighted material without permission.
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Be forgiving of mistakes. Not everyone is an expert on netiquette or the technology. Respond privately and kindly to minor errors if necessary.
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Avoid sarcasm and humor without non-verbal cues. Written words can be easily misinterpreted; what you intend as a joke might be offensive to others.
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Stay on topic. Keep your contributions relevant to the established discussion thread to maintain clarity and flow.
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Read, think, and then respond. Take a moment to review your message before sending to ensure it conveys the intended tone and meaning, preventing misunderstandings.