Netiquette refers to the expectations and guidelines for communicating respectfully and professionally in an online learning environment. Clear netiquette expectations help create a productive course climate that supports meaningful interaction and engagement.

Online communication in your course may occur through discussions, email, Zoom sessions, group work, peer reviews, collaborative activities, and other course interactions. Establishing expectations early helps students understand how they should communicate throughout the course.

Why Netiquette Matters

Clear communication expectations can help:

• Promote respectful and productive discussions
• Support meaningful engagement
• Encourage professional communication habits
• Reduce misunderstandings in online interactions
• Create a welcoming learning environment
• Help students feel more comfortable participating online
• Support respectful communication across different perspectives and experiences 

Recommended Netiquette Expectations

Consider encouraging your students to:

• Use respectful and appropriate language in all course communications
• Stay focused on the course topic during discussions and activities
• Read messages carefully before responding
• Support ideas with evidence, examples, or course content when appropriate
• Respect differing perspectives and engage in constructive discussion
• Avoid using all capital letters, which may be interpreted as shouting
• Use clear and professional language in emails and discussion posts
• Review spelling and grammar before posting when possible
• Respect the privacy of classmates and course discussions
• Participate in discussions and activities in a timely manner
• Reread messages before posting to help avoid misunderstandings related to tone or wording
• Respond to classmates and group members within a reasonable timeframe during collaborative activities
• Avoid using offensive language, excessive slang, or distracting communication styles in academic discussions 

Sample Netiquette Statement

You may copy and adapt the following statement for use in your syllabus or Start Here module.

You are expected to communicate respectfully and professionally in all course interactions, including discussions, email, group work, Zoom sessions, and peer feedback activities. Your online communication should contribute to a positive learning environment and support meaningful engagement with course content, classmates, and your instructor.

Use respectful language, remain focused on course topics, and engage constructively with differing perspectives. Your messages and discussion posts should be clear, professional, and appropriate for an academic setting. Remember that tone can sometimes be difficult to interpret in online communication, so review your messages carefully before posting. You should also respect the privacy of your classmates and avoid sharing course discussions or materials outside the course environment.

Blackboard Implementation Ideas

You can include netiquette expectations in several areas of your course, including:

• The syllabus
• A Start Here or Course Orientation module
• Discussion instructions
• Group project guidelines
• Zoom participation expectations
• Peer review instructions 

Include the full netiquette statement in the syllabus or Start Here module and provide brief reminders throughout the course as needed. Reinforcing these expectations throughout your course can help create respectful discussions, productive collaboration, and positive online interactions.