Asynchronous – Discussion Board

Asynchronous discussions take the form of posts and responses to a discussion forum or blog. In this type of discussion, the instructor will pose a topic and require students to post a discussion, respond, and perhaps critique and evaluate their peer’s submission. These discussions may be used to generate dialogue solely among students.

Synchronous – Virtual Classroom

Synchronous discussions are real-time. The instructor will organize a specific time for a virtual meeting and provide topics for discussion. These discussions move rapidly and require students to read and respond quickly, emphasizing the ideas being expressed rather than who is expressing them. Students can send private questions to the instructor and receive private responses. Often, instructors record and archive virtual classroom sessions for later review.

Communication

Since this is an online course, most communications from the professor will take place via email and through the Announcements section of the course map.

All electronic communication from the professor will be directed to the Frostburg State University email address of the student. Students are responsible for the content of all communications, so it is essential to check your university email regularly throughout the term.

When sending emails to faculty or fellow students, please follow these guidelines:

• Use your Frostburg State University email address only, as others may be filtered as spam.
• Use subject headings appropriately.
• Include a proper salutation.
• Include your name and a closing.

The professor will also use the Announcements section of the course regularly to share important updates. Students are advised to check this section with every log-on.

Written assignments will be submitted electronically through the module assignment link in Canvas, located with each assignment.

Netiquette

• Be polite and respectful to fellow online participants by avoiding:
  • Obscene language or sexual conversation
  • ALL CAPS text, which is perceived as shouting
  • Repeating the same sentence continuously
  • “Flaming” others with emotional or angry messages
• To communicate effectively in the online environment:
  • Use smileys or emoticons to show tone of voice or emotion 🙂
  • Use symbols such as asterisks (*) to emphasize words
  • Use acronyms such as “brb” (be right back) or “afk” (away from keyboard)

Netiquette and Group Dynamics: The Core Rules

(Adapted from Harasim, L., Hiltz, S.R., Teles, L., & Turoff, M. (1995).
Learning Networks: A Field Guide to Teaching and Learning Online. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.)

Creating a sense of online community is essential. Positive climate building reduces anxiety and fosters a collegial environment. Some ways to promote community include:

• Using first names in communication.
• Responding promptly to messages sent to you.
• Offering reinforcement phrases such as “Good idea!” or “Thanks for the suggestion.”
• Making personalizing remarks (e.g., about your location, weather, or workspace).
• Avoiding hostile or curt comments. No sexist, racist, or objectionable language is tolerated.
• Using humor appropriately.
• Promoting cooperation by offering assistance and support to others.

Beyond Netiquette: Do’s and Don’ts

• Always demonstrate courtesy online. No abusive or libelous comments are permitted.
• Use only your real first and last name.
• Maintain confidentiality: do not share conference content without consent.
• Respect copyright: don’t use others’ words or text without proper acknowledgement or permission.
• Use humor carefully—symbols or parenthetic phrases (e.g., :-) or “ha! ha!”) can help clarify tone and prevent misunderstandings.