Civitas In the Online Classroom

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Civitas In the Online Classroom

• Guidelines for asynchronous discussion

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Problem

• Rude, discourteous, disrespectful communication
  in the online environment (Discussion Board,
  email, blogs.)
• Anonymity . . . . . . . . distance
• new type of student
• influence of obnoxious talking heads.
• blogs
• YouTube
• Instructor expectations?

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Examples

• Response to a student who posted an opinion on
  his religious objections to gay marriage
• You , sir, are a religious bigot. I hope you
  enjoy rotting in hell.

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• Reaction, by student, to my anti-flaming policy
  in my syllabus
• I personally believe that infringement on my
  ideas, no matter how rude, discourteous, and even
  a verbal or written attack are protected speech
  and that the person attempting to censor should
  be prosecuted in civil and criminal court.  The
  person should pay the consequences with prison
  terms and large monetary awards to the victims of
  such censorship.  Any person who even attempts to
  take an individuals freedoms is guilty of a
  crime worse that (sic) murder, in my opinion.

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• Students reply to another student on DBQ
  regarding border security
• Ryan, your post is plain bullsht. Border
  security cannot happen until all the wetbacks are
  rounded up and sent back to Mexico.

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Do you have any examples?
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Suggested solutions

• Civitas - an environment conducive to the free
  exchange of ideas without having to defend ones
  self against personal attacks (handout.)
• 1. Pay Attention
• 2. Acknowledge Others
• 3. Think the Best
• 4. Listen
• 5. Be Inclusive

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• Civitas contd
• 6. Speak Kindly
• 7. Dont Speak Ill
• 8. Accept and Give Praise
• 9. Respect Even a Subtle No
• 10. Respect Others Opinions
• 11. Mind Your body
• 12. Be Agreeable
• 13. Keep It Down (and Rediscover Silence)
• 14. Respect Other Peoples Time
• 15. Respect Other Peoples Space

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• Civitas contd
• 16. Apologize Earnestly and Thoughtfully
• 17. Assert Yourself
• 18. Avoid Personal Questions
• 19. Care for Your Guests
• 20. Be a Considerate Guest
• 21. Think Twice before Asking for Favors
• 22. Refrain from Idle Complaints
• 23. Accept and Give Constructive Criticism
• 24. Respect the Environment and Be Gentle to
  Animals
• 25. Dont Shift Responsibility and Blame
•  Source Choosing Civility The twenty-five rules
  of considerate conduct
• P.M. Forni (St. Martins Press, 2002)

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More Suggested Solutions

• Consistent monitoring of discussion forums by
  instructor
• participate in DBQ
• be a role model
• Instructor expectations
• polite , yet assertive discourse
• salutation when replying (Jim, I really enjoyed
  your thoughtful post. However, . . . . )
• Remind students that they are writing in an
  academic environment.
• Group Discussion Board (shared community)
• Blogs??????

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• Expectations of student behavior in syllabus
• Gentle Warning Rude, discourteous, personal
  attacks on the opinions of others . . . known in
  the vernacular as flaming . . . posted to
  BlackBoard and directed at the instructor or a
  classmate will not be tolerated. You will only
  be warned once and an apology to class will be
  required. If a second occurrence of flaming on
  your part should occur, I will recommend to WWCC
  administration that you be removed from course
  under auspices of WWCC Policy 5420A
• Consequences
• Support by Department Chair/Administration

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Do you have suggestions?

• Fostering Civility on Campus Judy Rookstool
• Community College Press www.aacc.nche.edu/bookst
  ore