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Over time a set of rules
(conventions) have emerged that make online
communication more pleasant and effective. Here are
some of the most important ones: 1. Brief is Best. Keep
messages short and focus on a single topic. It is
difficult to process and remember information that
is more than a couple of display screens long -- so
keep all messages as brief as possible. When there
are multiple topics to be discussed, use a separate
message for each. Similarly, use separate files for
different kinds of information instead of putting
it all in one large file. 2. Careful with Formatting
Don't use fancy formatting (e.g., tabs, tables,
fonts) unless you are sure that all users can read
this (as in the case of WWW documents). On the
other hand, make messages/files more readable by
using spacing, subheads, and lines. Similarly,
don't include graphics, images or multimedia
components (audio/video clips) in messages or files
unless you are fairly sure that the intended
audience can view them. When including multimedia
components in web documents, identify the format
used (e.g., mpeg, wav, etc.) so people can
determine what "plug-ins" (helper applications) are
needed to run them. If you are using a specialized
plug-in, provide a source location (ideally via a
direct link) where people can obtain the
plug-in. 3. Provide Structure
Take the time to create meaningful subject
headings or descriptors for messages to help people
orient to the purpose of the information. Also,
begin email messages with a summary, recap, or
excerpt of an ongoing discussion to provide
context. When people are reading dozens of messages
or files, they need as much help as possible
deciphering them. When organizing a real-time
conference, it is very important to distribute an
outline or agenda beforehand to help keep the
discussion focused and provide some
structure. 4. Manage Participation
Participation in a real-time conference (aka
"chat") involves some special considerations. (We
won't be requiring any chats in this course, but
participants may wish to use the chat feature on
their own, or may want to experiment with it among
themselves to see how it works.) More than
anything, "chat"-ting requires a lot of patience;
think of an online chat as a group conversation in
slow motion. Each person must be allowed to finish
a comment before someone else types a comment. In a
highly structured conference, the moderator may
require that participants request permission to
talk by sending a sign (e.g., typing a "!" or "?"
for comment or question). This is like asking for
the "floor" in a formal meeting. Even if this
practice is not used, the moderator must play a
strong role in managing the discussion or chaos
will result. In particular, the moderator needs to
ensure that the discussion stays focused and that
participants do not stray off on individual
discussions or tangential topics. The larger the
number of participants, the more formal procedures
will be needed. 5. Public domain Think
carefully about what you write. First of all, it is
very easy for people to forward some or all of an
email message/files to others ... so always assume
that anything you post could be made quite public.
(Use the telephone or fax for confidential
conversations, not CMC!). Also your message may be
read by a wide variety of people (particularly if
it is posted to a public forum on the
Internet/web); hence, all the more reason to be
respectful of diversity. 6. Be kind and gentle.
There is no need to make cyberspace a nasty place.
Avoid sarcasm and mean-spiritedness. And if you
read something that upsets you, don't flame; either
ignore it or wait a day and send a rational
response. The online environment is a wonderful
place for debate and discussion, but remember to be
civil and considerate. Home Contents Syllabus Intro 1 2 3 4 5 6 Group Summary Assignments WebCT Instructors |
