Online Classes - Discussion Board Etiquette
Summary
TLDRProfessor Kobe offers essential tips for maintaining netiquette on online discussion boards, emphasizing the importance of tone, following directions, avoiding procrastination, contributing substantively to discussions, and proofreading posts. He also encourages students to innovate by adding relevant multimedia to keep discussions engaging, while reminding them to gauge the classroom environment before doing so. This guidance aims to foster a respectful and productive academic discourse in the digital classroom.
Takeaways
- 😀 Be mindful of your tone on discussion boards, as they differ from social media platforms like Reddit or Twitter.
- 📚 Understand that the tone of your communication should reflect the academic setting and be appropriate for an educational forum.
- 👩🏫 Be politically correct and avoid playing the devil's advocate unless explicitly instructed to do so in the discussion board prompts.
- 🗣️ Consider the teacher's perspective and ensure communication is conducive to an environment where all students can learn and contribute.
- 🔍 Check your tone by reading your messages out loud in different tones to ensure they don't come off as aggressive or sarcastic.
- 📝 Follow the discussion board directions carefully, which may include multiple steps like required readings and initial responses.
- ⏳ Avoid procrastination by managing your time effectively and engaging in the discussion well before the deadline.
- 🤔 Add substance to your discussions by engaging with other students' posts and contributing meaningfully to the conversation.
- 👀 Remember to proofread your posts to ensure they are well-structured, clear, and free from errors.
- 🎨 Consider adding relevant and innovative elements like graphics, text links, or TED talks to enrich the discussion, if appropriate.
- 😉 Be aware of the class environment and teacher's preferences before introducing creative elements like memes to the discussion board.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video by Professor Kobe?
-The main topic of the video is discussing netiquette for online discussion boards in an academic setting.
Why should students be mindful of their tone when participating in online discussion boards?
-Students should be mindful of their tone to ensure communication reflects the academic forum, is respectful, and does not come off as aggressive, which can hinder learning and discussion.
What does Professor Kobe mean by 'digital migrants'?
-By 'digital migrants,' Professor Kobe refers to individuals who did not grow up with digital technology and are not native to digital communication, including some teachers and students.
Why should students avoid playing the devil's advocate on discussion boards without specific instructions to do so?
-Playing the devil's advocate without instructions can stir unnecessary conflict and distract from the academic discourse, which is meant for learning and idea exchange.
How can students check if their tone might be perceived as aggressive in an online discussion?
-Students can check their tone by reading their messages out loud, having someone else read it, and trying to read it with a 'sassier' or 'pissed-off' tone to see if it could be misinterpreted.
What is the importance of following directions when participating in online discussion boards?
-Following directions ensures that students address all required points, maximize their points, and contribute effectively to the academic discussion.
Why should students avoid procrastination when it comes to discussion board participation?
-Avoiding procrastination allows students to engage in meaningful discussions, submit quality work, and not rush through the process, which can affect their learning and the quality of discourse.
What does Professor Kobe suggest students do to add substance to their discussion board responses?
-Professor Kobe suggests students engage in the discussion, respond to other students' posts, and contribute meaningful insights rather than just agreeing or providing superficial responses.
Why is proofreading important before submitting a response on a discussion board?
-Proofreading helps ensure the response does not come off as a rant, is well-structured, and adheres to the academic tone and netiquette expected in an online class.
What is the additional tip Professor Kobe gives for enhancing discussion board participation?
-The additional tip is to consider being innovative by adding relevant graphics, text links, or other engaging content to make the discussion more interesting and informative for classmates.
How can students know if it's appropriate to add creative elements like memes to their discussion board posts?
-Students can gauge the appropriateness by understanding the class environment and the teacher's preferences, and should avoid being offensive or sarcastic.
Outlines
📚 Netiquette for Online Discussion Boards
Professor Kobe introduces the topic of netiquette for online discussion boards, emphasizing the importance of tone in academic forums. He notes that discussion boards are not social media platforms and that communication should reflect the academic setting. The professor advises students to be politically correct and avoid aggressive tones that could hinder learning. He suggests reading posts out loud to check tone and using evidence-based arguments instead of absolute statements. The summary also touches on avoiding sarcasm, which can be misinterpreted in digital communication.
🗓️ Following Directions and Avoiding Procrastination
In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the importance of following directions and avoiding procrastination when participating in online discussions. Professor Kobe stresses the need to understand and adhere to the guidelines provided for discussion boards, which often include multiple components like required readings and initial questions. He also points out that late submissions can indicate a lack of engagement in the discussion. The professor encourages students to plan their time effectively to ensure they can contribute meaningfully to the academic discourse.
💬 Engaging in Substantive Discussions
The third paragraph highlights the necessity of contributing substance to online discussions. Professor Kobe advises students to actively participate by responding to peers' posts and adding value to the conversation. He likens engaging discussions to enriching classroom experiences and contrasts them with superficial or 'fluff' responses that do not foster meaningful academic dialogue. The summary underscores the professor's preference for students to be genuinely involved in discussions rather than merely agreeing with others.
🔍 Proofreading for Clarity and Relevance
In the fourth paragraph, Professor Kobe recommends that students proofread their discussion board posts to ensure clarity, relevance, and academic integrity. He suggests composing responses in a separate document before submitting to avoid impulsive posting and to give oneself time to review and refine the content. The summary mentions checking for excessive length, personal bias, and vagueness, ensuring that posts maintain the decorum of an academic discussion.
🎨 Encouraging Creativity in Online Discussions
The final paragraph encourages students to think creatively when participating in online discussions, suggesting the inclusion of graphics, text links, or relevant multimedia to enhance engagement. Professor Kobe shares a positive example of a student who created memes related to the course material, which added a playful element to the discussion without being offensive or sarcastic. The summary advises students to assess the classroom environment and teacher's preferences before incorporating such creative elements into their posts.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Netiquette
💡Discussion Boards
💡Tone
💡Academic Discourse
💡Political Correctness
💡Devil's Advocate
💡Directions
💡Procrastination
💡Substance
💡Proofread
💡Innovation
Highlights
Professor Kobe discusses the importance of netiquette on online discussion boards, emphasizing the need for mindful tone and communication.
The professor clarifies that discussion boards are not like social media platforms, requiring a more academic and respectful tone.
The generational gap in digital communication is acknowledged, suggesting that students should adapt their tone for academic forums.
Students are advised against playing the devil's advocate or stirring the pot in academic discussions unless instructed.
The importance of creating an inclusive learning environment is stressed, where all students can engage without feeling attacked.
Professor Kobe recommends reading posts out loud to check the tone and ensure it is suitable for academic discussion.
The use of evidence and open-minded language is encouraged over absolute statements in disagreement.
Sarcasm is discouraged in digital communication due to the difficulty in interpretation and potential for misunderstanding.
Following directions for discussion board tasks is emphasized, including printing or transferring instructions for clarity.
Avoiding procrastination is advised to ensure quality participation and engagement in discussion boards.
The visibility of submission times to teachers is mentioned, suggesting that early engagement is noticed and valued.
Students are encouraged to add substance to discussions, avoiding rote or superficial responses.
The professor suggests proofreading posts to ensure they do not come across as rants or are too personal.
Innovative approaches such as adding graphics, text links, or relevant multimedia are recommended to enhance engagement.
The professor shares a positive example of a student who created memes to make literature discussions more engaging.
A reminder to be innovative but also to gauge the classroom environment before introducing unconventional contributions.
The video concludes with an encouragement to be kind and considerate in online discussions, mirroring the professor's teaching philosophy.
Transcripts
hey I'm professor Kobe and today I want
to chat with you about discussion board
netiquette
since we talked about netiquette last
week when it comes to zoom conferencing
or being a part of your online digital
classes live this week I thought it
would be helpful to give you a couple of
tips as you work on your online
discussion boards if you're finding
these videos and tips helpful as you
navigate becoming an online student
practically overnight as so much of our
education is becoming distance education
please subscribe to our channel for more
content like this okay so let's get
started with 5 things to remember for
your online discussion boards number one
is to be mindful of your tone now first
thing you need to realize is that your
discussion boards they're not like
Reddit or Twitter so as you're writing
in there be very mindful of how you're
communicating your teacher is very
likely from a different generation than
you are and even if they're closer in
age maybe one generation away like me
we're still digital migrants meaning
we're not native to communicating we
didn't grow up with that digital world
just like a lot of our students have
ultimately just remember that this is an
academic forum and your communication
should be reflective of that the way you
write should show that your friends may
not judge you when you text them the
wrong there but I'm gonna judge you as
much as you may hate it now is the time
to actually be politically correct in
your discussion boards now some of you
really love to play the devil's advocate
and you might just be exploring the
other side unless that's exactly what
the directions tell you to do I don't
need you stirring the pot in a
discussion board a classroom whether
it's a physical classroom or an online
classroom it's an environment for
academic discourse for making progress
on these conversations and these ideas
in an academic setting that allows for
everyone to learn and potentially
contribute to I want to encourage you to
think about this from the teachers
perspective we want to create an
environment where all students can learn
and if someone is coming in with an
aggressive tone or attacking another
person it's really hard to learn if
you're in that fight or flight moment if
you feel like you're being attacked or
someone is coming off incredibly strong
and opinionated then it's really hard to
open up relax and actually learn
something so as a teacher I really
prefer if students our mindful
of how they're communicating it can be
easy to come off as aggressive when
you're just maybe curious so there are a
couple things you can do to actually
check your tone and see if it'll be able
to come off as something for an academic
conversation in the discussion board
first you actually recommend reading it
out loud read what you have drafted up
or have someone else read it see how the
tone sounds went aloud then also try to
give it a read with a little bit of a
sassier kind of pissed-off attitude just
a little bit to see if it could actually
be interpreted that way you can also
take a look at some of the specific word
choices or the way you phrased some of
your comments for instance if you have
written the author would never say that
in response to a discussion board prompt
you can see how that's very limiting
that's very black-and-white thinking to
say they would never think that instead
you support use evidence and a little
bit more of an open mind in tone so
perhaps if you want to disagree you
would look at the prompt and say I don't
think that the author would consider
that and the reason I don't think that
is because on paragraph 3 she states
this so using not support using that
evidence and using a gentler calmer tone
then maybe you would face-to-face will
help ensure that others can continue
that conversation and just avoid sarcasm
like sorry I can do it here on the
camera you see my face you share my tone
you know the body language perhaps
you've watched my other videos or you
have me as a student and you kind of
know my general demeanor in the online
environment it's way harder to read
sarcasm right you've probably gotten
mixed up in a text or conversation
digitally that was not sarcastic but was
interpreted as such so just don't use
sarcasm please tip number 2 follow
directions
it seems super straightforward and if
you watch my videos you know I say this
like all the time just follow the
directions I always encourage you to
print it out print out the discussion
board directions or copy/paste them into
another document or handwrite them with
your really pretty glitter pens whatever
you're doing to transfer the directions
to somewhere else and where they're
actually typed on the computer it's
gonna help you to make sure you're
hitting all of the points for my
discussion boards I have no more than
one a week in my classes however there
are a lot of moving parts they're often
required readings prep and questions
that students need to first respond to
in order to get the discussion
going so it's important to make sure
you're following each step to maximize
the points you're gonna get tip number
three is another duh it's avoid
procrastination I really encourage you
to look at the deadlines and try to
schedule your life your work your home
your other classes so that you can
finish the work for each class ahead of
the deadlines if you're just rushing to
finish it you're not gonna have time to
check your tone to proofread etc also
one of the things about online classes
that isn't as common when you turn
things into a physical class is we can
see the exact moment you've finished as
a teacher I see it I think about it so
if you're submitting something just
before the deadline I know you weren't
as involved in the rigorous conversation
in that discussion you weren't engaged
in going back and forth I guess
sometimes life means you scheduled out
that time just before the deadline and
that's when you're gonna do it that's
fine but do know we can see and by
getting involved in the discussion
earlier before the end you really are
contributing to good solid academic
discourse regardless of it's in person
or in the online forum that leads to my
fourth point which is to please remember
to discuss add something of substance
respond when students post to your
responses get in there get engaged
think about the physical classroom
environment if you've had a really solid
discussion whether it's with the teacher
at the front if it's in the midst of
lecture and something organic really
happens that everyone's enjoying talking
about or you've done a formal Socratic
seminar those conversations those
discussions in a classroom environment
that are really engaging that really
have people buying into them those moves
so much faster those are much more
enriching than people who are responding
with very rote or kind of fluff
responses yes I agree thank you for a
great pose what value is that that's not
real conversation but you might as well
just have like a sticker good job okay
my fifth tip may seem a little odd for a
discussion board but I highly recommend
you proofread by spending a little bit
of extra time at the very end you can go
through and make sure it doesn't sound
like a giant rant right this is how you
make sure you're not some
random reddit thread in your academic
discussion board if it's too long too
short if it's too personal or too vague
this is the opportunity to check
yourself perhaps consider composing in a
different place so maybe open a Google
Doc and put the directions in there and
then type your response there so you're
not tempted to immediately submit if
you're typing right in the submission
box and it'll give you a little extra
time to review check your tone follow
all the other tips that I've given and
then you can copy and piece of in before
you submit I want to add one more thing
before I sign off and that is to
consider being innovative if you have a
teacher who's fun or a subject that's
pretty open consider adding some really
fun graphics text links or a TED talk
anything relevant that might help
continue to engage your classmates as a
teacher in my English classes I really
like when students will add an
appropriate image or further information
then was just asked for on the
discussion prompt cuz then it keeps the
other students interested and it allows
the others to get some more information
than from just me now remember you're
not an expert so you're not trying to
teach anything I'm not telling you to be
the educator in these I am encouraging
you to discuss but if you can make it
playful we love that and if I love it
I'm always in a good mood when I'm
grading I did have a student in one of
my literature classes a few years ago
who was really into making memes for the
class in the discussion boards and the
students loved it she was really clever
I never offensive or sarcastic like
we've talked about in the earlier tips
but what she would do she would tie in
the characters for some of the stories
we were reading with the content with
the analysis we were doing and she came
up with really clever memes through the
semester I don't recommend doing this on
your first or second discussion post
make sure you feel out the class
environment understand your teacher
before you get aggressive in turning out
memes but it's okay to think a little
bit outside the box if the classroom
environment seems to lend itself to it
because that way you'll have more fun in
your discussions as will your teacher
all right so those are my five things I
want you to remember as you are working
on your discussion boards improving your
discussion board and netiquette in your
online classes be kind to yourself and
others not just in the discussion board
if you find this video helpful and want
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take care
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