NETIQUETTE GUIDE FOR ONLINE COURSES

It is important to recognize that the online classroom is in fact a classroom, and certain
behaviors are expected when you communicate with both your peers and your instructors.
These guidelines for online behavior and interaction are known as netiquette.

SECURITY:

Remember that your password is the only thing protecting you from pranks or more
serious harm.

• Don't share your password with anyone.

• Change your password if you think someone else might know it.

• Always log out when you are finished using the system.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

When communicating online, you should always:

• Treat your instructor and classmates with respect in email or any other communication.

• Always use your professors’ proper title: Dr. or Prof., or if in doubt use Mr. or Ms.

• Unless specifically invited, don’t refer to your instructor by first name.

• Use clear and concise language.

• Remember that all college level communication should have correct spelling and grammar
(this includes discussion boards).

• Avoid slang terms such as “wassup?” and texting abbreviations such as “u” instead of “you.”

• Use standard fonts such as Ariel, Calibri or Times new Roman and use a size 10 or 12 pt. font

• Avoid using the caps lock feature AS IT CAN BE INTERPRETTED AS YELLING.

• Limit and possibly avoid the use of emoticons like :) or .

• Be cautious when using humor or sarcasm as tone is sometimes lost in an email or discussion
post and your message might be taken seriously or sound offensive.

• Be careful with personal information (both yours and other’s).

• Do not send confidential information via e-mail. EMAIL NETIQUETTE When you send an
email to your instructor, teaching assistant, or classmates, you should:

• Use a descriptive subject line.

• Be brief.
• Avoid attachments unless you are sure your recipients can open them.

• Avoid HTML in favor of plain text.

• Sign your message with your name and return e-mail address.

• Think before you send the e-mail to more than one person. Does everyone really need to see
your message?

• Be sure you REALLY want everyone to receive your response when you click, “reply all.”

• Be sure that the message author intended for the information to be passed along before you
click the “forward” button. 2

MESSAGE BOARD NETIQUETTE AND GUIDELINES:

When posting on the Discussion Board in your online class, you should:

• Make posts that are on topic and within the scope of the course material.

• Take your posts seriously and review and edit your posts before sending.

• Be as brief as possible while still making a thorough comment.

• Always give proper credit when referencing or quoting another source.

• Be sure to read all messages in a thread before replying.

• Don’t repeat someone else’s post without adding something of your own to it.

• Avoid short, generic replies such as, “I agree.” You should include why you agree or add to the
previous point.

• Always be respectful of others’ opinions even when they differ from your own.

• When you disagree with someone, you should express your differing opinion in a respectful,
non-critical way.

• Do not make personal or insulting remarks.

• Be open-minded.
 This guideline of Online Course Policies and Procedures is drafted by the School of Liberal
Arts (SLA) in conjunction with the Academic Affairs Office (AAO). The information contained in
this academic policy is intended to inform the instructional faculty members and students about
the overall guidelines and procedures for online courses program being offered by the DWCC-
SLA. The policies and procedures are subjected to change without advance notice; however,
when changes occur, the faculty members will be notified of the changes. Questions related to
this document should be directed to Mr. Dennis Alcaraz, Dean, School of Liberal Arts.

Beginning Procedures for Online Courses: At the beginning of the course the instructor should
strongly encourage students to read the material presented on the “online platform” web
pages.

Adding students to Moodle: DWCC Moodle is linked to the MAMS Student Information System
(SIS) but students are not automatically registered for and deleted from Moodle class rosters.
By the start of classes an account is established for every student enrolled in courses.

Requests for changes in class rosters are verified by the Moodle Administrator. To add a
student the Student Information System (SIS) and the Registrar’s Office verify that the student is
officially enrolled in the course. If the student is enrolled, the Moodle Administrator will put the
student into the class. If the student is not enrolled through SIS, we will inform the person
making the request that we are unable to add the student to the course until they are officially
enrolled.

Reviewing Online Course Content: Instructors of online courses are responsible for reviewing
and updating their course content according to policies established within the department
providing the course.

Reporting No Show: Each semester, the instructor must report those students who are on their
class roll but have NEVER logged onto Moodle or joined any of online discussions. It is the
school’s policy that such student be assigned “NIC” state for the course.

Syllabus: Syllabus is required for online courses and must meet the same content requirements
that apply to all campus academic courses. Syllabus must include learning objectives, grading
procedures, examinations and dates, number of quizzes, and methods of creating interactivity
(chat, bulletin board, e-mail, etc.). The syllabus is posted on Moodle within the course content
and it is the instructor’s responsibility to update syllabus information prior to the start of each
semester.

Sample attendance policies from online classes

1. Students are required to attend the orientation session that is scheduled first day of
classes of the semester. This is done to ensure that all enrolled students are accounted
for and materials for the online class are introduced.
 2. Students are required to log on weekly and review the week's course material. Individual
Assignments or Internet Assignments are due each class/session. Attendance will be
taken based on student submitting assignments. Failure to submit an assignment when
due will be marked absent for that session. (sir ito lang po naiisip ko para
maencourage ang bata to participate sa online class. Give them extra activity to
work on para mapilitang pumasok sa discussion.)

3. Attendance Policy: The college has an 85% attendance requirement; there are no
excused absences. Absences are counted from the first scheduled class meeting. A
student who misses more than 7 sessions for classes scheduled every Tuesday and
Thursday and 11 absences for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday will be dropped out of
the course. Students accumulating absences totaling 15% of instructional hours before
the 60% point of the class are also subject to being dropped from the course. Part of
student’s class standing grade in the course is determined by participation in the weekly
Discussion Forums.

4. Class meetings: You must participate in class activities as posted on the website weekly
or as announced via e-mail.

Please do the following three things at least twice per week:

4.1.Check the class website for updates.

4.2.Check the class discussion forum for new material and new responses.

4.3.Check your e-mail for assignments and other notices.

*Students will be responsible for material assigned by any of these methods.

5. Students and instructors only meet on-campus for orientation?? and/or evaluation
major exams, and performance testing. All other class activities will be performed
online using course management software with synchronous and asynchronous
tools of communication. In this case, the online student spends 5-20% of learning
time on campus engaged in face-to-face interactions with instructor.

II. DEFINITIONS

A. Online/distance Education

Online/distance education is defined as a delivery of educational courses and programs which

uses a wide range of educational and telecommunication technologies including satellite and
web-based technologies which incorporates learning management systems with synchronous
and/or asynchronous modes of communication. This mode of delivery requires special
techniques of online/distance course design and grounded instructional techniques to enhance
online/distance students learning outcomes, as well as special organization and administrative
arrangements.
B. Fully Delivered Online Course (FDOC)

FDOC means a course in which 80 to100% of the instruction is entirely delivered online, with
the following two (2) variances:

 Students and instructors meet exclusively only and the course is delivered entirely
online. The entire curriculum is delivered and course orientation as well as evaluation
and performance testing are all conducted online using course management software
with asynchronous and synchronous tools of communication.

 Students and instructors only meet on-campus for orientation and/or evaluation and
performance testing. All other class activities will be performed online using course
management software with synchronous and asynchronous tools of communication. In
this case, the online student spends 5-20% of learning time on campus engaged in face-
to-face interactions with instructor.

C. Asynchronous Communication

Asynchronous Communication is a mode of telecommunications in which a simultaneous

presence of individuals is not required for communication to take place. Examples are e-mail,
discussion forums, text messaging, and recordings. With these technologies, students can
communicate at their own pace using web-based tools such as online Chat and web
conferencing.

D. Synchronous Communication

Synchronous Communication is a mode of scheduled direct telecommunication in which a

simultaneous presence of individuals is required for communication to take place. Examples are
web-based tools such as online Chat and web conferencing.

III. INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

A. Adequacy of Technical Support and Facilities

DWCC will provide adequate technology for its online/distance course offerings through the
Computer Services Department (CSD) as well as other facilities that are required and
accessible to both faculty and students. CSD is equipped with technology (i.e., software.
equipment and facilities) appropriate for instructor and student interaction; CSD provides the
appropriate facilities to accommodate curricular commitments and technical assistance is
available for students and faculty with their use of the institution’s Learning Management
System (LMS).
B. Academic Freedom (SIR PAKI HIGHLIGHT NAMAN NITO) HAHAHAHA

SLA faculty members engaged in online/distance education are entitled, like other
faculty, to academic freedom as a teacher, researcher and citizen.

C. Asynchronous and Synchronous Provisions

When utilizing asynchronous communications, the facilitator/instructor will post a schedule of

availability, office/virtual hours, statement of minimum response time and preferences for
responding (i.e., to email, chats, etc.). Where synchronous communications are utilized, the
facilitator/instructor’s communication source will come from a range of online options that are
available (e.g., Skype, Zoom, Live Chat and Messaging, thru Messenger, Facebook Live, etc.).
The facilitator will also post a companion schedule.

D. Evaluation of Faculty Participating in Online/Distance Delivery

Faculty members who choose to participate in online/distance course delivery are expected to
undergo performance evaluations for the purpose of maintaining quality course delivery thereby
enhancing student retention and success. The evaluation of faculty shall be in accordance with
the process set forth in the Evaluation and Assessment of the Academic Affairs Office.

Also, in the interest of quality assurance, it is recommended that faculty who choose to build a
course for online/distance delivery should begin development of the course no later than the
semester immediately preceding the semester in which the course will be delivered.

Faculty teaching online/distance courses must be proficient in the following basic computer
skills prior to beginning the course:
 Working knowledge of computer hardware used to teach online courses;
 Computer file management;
 Document preparation;
 E-mail; and
 Web browsing

Faculty members utilizing course cartridges, compressed video or other media delivery must be
proficient in the following areas:
 Operation of the equipment;
 Video etiquette;
 Presentation techniques;
 Contingency planning for equipment breakdown and problems;
 Class interaction strategies;
 Proctor responsibilities; and
 Contact information
VII. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT

Online/distance courses will be evaluated according to the standards utilized for Regular
courses Evaluation and Assessment of electronically delivered courses, faculty and program
stake place in the context of the policies and procedures of all existing academic programs.
Multiple assessment methods, including frequent interaction between the professor and
students through electronic means, telephone, or in-person channels will be highlighted. These
assessment methods can include participation in discussion boards and chat rooms, on-line
group projects, progress reports, peer assessments or other interactive assessment techniques.

Evaluating the Level of Student Learning

Course content and learning outcomes are well-aligned and appropriate to the level of the
course and the levels of the learners. Student learning is assessed at the formative level using
semester testing and quizzing, but also summative at the end of courses or programs.

In addition, instructors should design assessments for students that incorporate a variety of
feedback methods that are appropriate to the task. For example, reading activities involving
web-based materials might use self-graded quizzes with links to answers, while large-scale
projects might involve submission of electronic journals, progress reports, and collaborative first
drafts. Criteria for graded assessments should be clearly communicated. Rapid feedback can
often be obtained by using simple communication methods such as phone calls, e-mail, and
chat rooms. On-line tests and quizzes can also be used for rapid feedback, although instructors
should realize that at the present time secure large-scale testing is not technologically possible.