Given the proliferation of online interactions, it’s no surprise that there are hundreds of websites offering recommendations for proper behavior online, known as netiquette. Some — like this site — have to do with the content you create:
- Remember that your posts are public
- Stay on-topic
- Be considerate of others contributing to the site
- Write clearly and succinctly
- Don’t post advertisements
Others — like this one — deal with social issues, such as proper behavior around other people while receiving or sending texts, responding promptly to messages, choosing social media friends, not emailing large files, and respecting privacy.
While we all would do well to take these suggestions to heart, students in a remote classroom environment need to be particularly cognisant of them, in order to interact appropriately and productively, and contribute to a deeper sense of mutually respectful community.
Instructors* in Princeton’s Spanish department have drawn up their own netiquette recommendations for their courses. We recommend that you familiarize yourself and your students with these, and use them throughout the semester as guidelines for appropriate behavior:
- Camera: It is important to turn your video camera on so we can all see each other. This facilitates communication between you and your classmates and professor. [At the same time, it's true that seeing yourself on the screen can be very distracting. You can hide your own image (while keeping your camera on so that others can still see you) by hovering your mouse over your image, clicking on the three blue dots and then again on Hide Self View in the drop-down menu. To restore your image to your screen, use the same drop-down menu and click on Show Self View.]
- Lighting: If possible, use a plain background – that is, avoid backlight from bright windows – and have good lighting on your face so you can be seen clearly. Seeing someone’s facial expression facilitates social interaction by establishing empathy and carrying communicative meaning, which is particularly important for language learning.
- Gallery View: Open “gallery view” (on the top right on the Zoom window, choose between “gallery view” and “speaker view”), so you can see everyone in the class. The gallery view helps you to be personally connected with everyone else when you speak and when you’re listening.
- Virtual Backgrounds: Everyone is encouraged to use virtual backgrounds. They keep your personal spaces private, allow you to express your identity and to connect with each other. To avoid distractions, please refrain from using videos or animated GIFs as backgrounds. To show mutual respect, backgrounds with political, commercial, or potentially offensive meanings are not allowed.
- Sound: If there is background noise, please mute your microphone when not speaking. Use a headset or microphone if possible for best hearing and speaking capabilities and to avoid distractions for you and for others.
- Location: It is recommended that you find a quiet place where you can sit down at a desk, like you would in a classroom, instead of lying down on a bed or a couch.
- Dress Code: Wear to your online class what you would to an in-person class.
- Eating and Drinking: Please refrain from eating or drinking anything that affects your active participation in class and/or distracts others. Having a light snack should be okay, as long as this does not interfere with the work required during the class session.
- Other Apps: To improve Zoom performance, close any applications not used during class. Please turn off email, social media, and text messages to avoid distractions.
* Anais Holgado-Lage, Anna Alsina, Daniela Salcedo, Jeannie Byrne, and Alberto Bruzos.