Netiquette is a collection of social conventions which dictate the way in which people interact with each other on the Internet. The term is a portmanteau of “net,” short for “Internet,” and “etiquette.” Like social etiquette in real life, the rules of netiquette are commonly in flux, and they may vary significantly between different groups of Internet users and across different cultures. The primary purpose of Netiquette in the course room or in any academic online communication engagement should always be treating other people with courtesy and respect. If I were an instructor in a course room, my top-ten rules of online communication engagement, of Netiquette would include the following:
1. Spell check and proofread all written internet communication because errors diminish the credibility of the message.
2. Do not use all caps on the internet because it is shouting. All caps are considered shouting on the internet. Shouting is not polite. Therefore, it is bad netiquette to use all caps on the internet because shouting is not polite.
3. Honesty is good netiquette because network communications are not valid without it. Be honest in your profiles and other communication because honesty creates the best online experience.
4. Be yourself online because you are not anonymous online and others users are real people too. Do not say or do things online that you would not do in reality because you cannot be taken seriously if you do. Your online image is important.