Last updated: 1/11/01
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Online Citizenship
Online citizenship will be a component of the course grade. I have two goals here: (a)
to focus attention on how online life might be different than F2F (Face To Face) life, and
(b) to foster a supportive environment in which each of us can put forth our best effort.
This component is new for me this year (Winter 2001 semester), and this component will
most likely evolve during the semester. Here are the factors that I plan to use in
evaluating online citizenship:
- Keeping the online discussion organized. This means putting your postings under an
appropriate topic, and not starting a new topic unless your topic really is new.
- Helping other students where you can. This includes help both in interpreting the
readings, and in using the online methods, for example under the "Tech" topic on
the computer conference.
- For AGS 3340, being prepared and doing a fair share of your Team's work.
- Being slow to take offense and double-checking any interpretation that a possibly
negative remark was meant personally. Online expression can be intense, and I encourage
this. Expect sharp differences of opinion. But the other side of this seems to be that a
remark that is not meant as a personal attack may be interpreted as one, and responded to
with a personal attack. This is called a "flame war", and can quickly get out of
hand. Here, good citizenship will be interpreted as being sure to check with the other
person if you think you have been attacked on a personal level before letting
them have it with both barrels. Correspondingly, try to be aware of possible
misinterpretations of your own words. Again, this is in no way meant to discourage your
full and frank expression of your own feelings. The offense is not in saying that you feel
that the other person is wrong, but in stating or assuming or seeming to assume that their
being wrong is a matter of fact. Many of the most future-oriented corporations, for
example, try to make diversity of opinion a strength by encouraging expression of
differences, and treating those differences as an opportunity for learning. In this
orientation, withholding expression of your disagreement is as bad as making a personal
attack; both reduce the opportunity for everyone to learn.
- No online harassment, either in public or private. I do not intend to give a precise
definition of harassment.
Times'
Harvest Advanced Seminar (online)