Remember, when you are posting in discussion forums we expect you to observe common rules of etiquette (see a visual here). However, here's a few basic categories of etiquette to keep in mind.
- Respect the challenges of written communication (e.g., don't use all CAPS, avoid abbreviations, be careful with jokes, don't say things in writing you wouldn't say in person (e.g., call someone stupid), avoid posting when you are angry)
- Make your post valuable for others (e.g., keep it as short as possible, use the simplest language you can (not everyone speaks English as a first language), stay on topic, be accurate (or state that this is your opinion), before posting a question - check to see if someone else has already asked it, if many people respond to your post - provide a summary).
- Be respectful of others (e.g. respect the opinion of your classmates, be open to others with differing viewpoints, respect the differences in culture and experience among learners in the course).