BSCW Project Help Files: Workspace Courtesy

The workspace is our common classroom. Like a "real" classroom, the "virtual" classroom need to be run so that everyone is free to participate fully in the class. There are certain ways one interacts in the virtual classroom that are different from face to face interaction. Below are some guidelines to help you negotiate interaction on the workspace.

• Be Brave!!! Don't be afraid to make comments or ask questions in the workspace. The following rules are not intended to make you cyber-shy. These guidelines are here to help facilitate conversation. You have to be bold and initiate conversation or help to carry it on. Don't be afraid that you will make a mistake. Grammar and spelling do not count as long as we can figure out what you are trying to say!

• We are all in this together. If you fail to make comments you will affect the performance of the entire group and the success of the class itself. The conversations on course topics will enhance your learning only if you participate by reading other peoples' comments and making your own.

• Make your comments respectful. Always strive to be positive on the workspace. It is perfectly fine to disagree with someone but do so courteously! Remember that messages can easily be misread so word your message carefully.

• Always assume the best. Messages on the workspace lack tone, facial expression and gestures which are so important in the normal course of conversation. Sometimes a message may seem hostile or arrogant when it is not. The best rule of thumb is to always assume that the person means well and answer in kind.

• At all costs avoid a flame war. If a message seems out of place, do not respond to it on the workspace. If you think a message is hostile or inappropriate you should contact your professor or the person who posted the message privately. Use an office visit or an e-mail. Usually the person him/herself can explain what was meant by the message. This is much better than getting into a flame war (an angry back and forth dialouge) on the workspace. Remember, you cannot erase a message unless you yourself were the originator so THINK before you respond.

• Make you messages significant. It takes a long time to call up a message (depending on internet traffic as well as workspace traffic) so do not leave messages that say "I agree" or "I disagree". Explain yourself fully in a message. It is fine to make brief comments but do not make insignificant comments!!! The best rule of thumb is to ask if your comment or question will add any new information to the workspace or improve the quality of communications.

• Be patient with one another. Remember that many in the class speak English as a second language. Never criticize anyone's form of expression. If you don't understand what someone is getting at simply ask for a clarification. Also, most everyone in this class is new to computers and new to computer communications. If you have a suggestion for someone do it by e-mail-- you could make a friend for life!!!

• DON'T SHOUT. Typing in all capital letters is a convention for shouting. Use this convention SPARINGLY. Normally your text should use regular sentence conventions-- initial capitals and small letters the rest of the way!

• Understand the role of the professors. The professors in this class must act to stimulate conversations. This sometimes means that they will directly disagree with you, ask you to clarify what you are saying or, at times, play the devil's advocate and take a position for the sake of argument which they themselves might not hold. Keep in mind that this is not a personal attack or criticism-- it is merely a way to hopefully keep a conversation alive.

This page is managed by Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J. of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Creighton University, the Jesuit College of Nebraska. E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu Page Last Updated: January 11, 2001