Netiquette
 
"Netiquette," or network etiquette, refers to the evolving rules for considerate behaviour on the networks. These guidelines are often posted at the beginning of an online course, or perhaps in the "cafe" or "student center" where all students mingle. 
Netiquette and Group Dynamics
 
 
This refers to your efforts to create a sense of online community. Positive climate building can reduce anxiety about communicating online, and contribute to a positive collegial environment. Climate building can be developed by: 
  • Use of first names by participants. 
  • Responding promptly to messages sent to you. 
  • Use of reinforcement phrases (i.e., "Good idea!" or "Thanks for the suggestions," etc.). 
  • Use of personalizing remarks (i.e., a reference to where you are working -- home, office, terminal, what is happening around you, the weather, etc.).
  • Avoiding hostile or curt comments. No objectionable, sexist, or racist language will be tolerated. 
  • Displaying humour. 
  • Promoting cooperation by offering assistance and support to other participants and by sharing ideas. 

Beyond Netiquette: Dos and Don'ts
 
  • Demonstrating courtesy online is fundamental. (Absolutely no abusive or libelous comments will be permitted.) 
  • Use only your real first and last name online. 
  • Confidentiality: No one else should be given access to any of the conferences (either viewing onscreen or in print), without the previous consent of all participants and conferees. 
  • Copyright & Plagiarism: Don't use the words or text of others without proper acknowledgement of the source (if this was in some public source), or -- if private (as in a conference) unless you first have the author's permission. 
  • The use of humor can be very tricky; sometimes it is seen as sarcasm or derision rather than as funny. Symbols or parenthetic phrases (e.g., :-) or "ha! ha!") can help to convey emotional tone and help to prevent misunderstandings.

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