12 Rules of Netiquette for Teachers

Principles for appropriate online communication and behavior for pre -service educators

1. Remember the Human:

Always treat others with respect and consideration. Remember that there's a real person behind every screen, and your words have an impact.

• Follow the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated.
• Aim to communicate clearly and inclusively so your content is accessible to everyone, regardless of their device or ability. This ensures your information can be understood by people using all technologies, whether a phone, desktop, or assistive technology.

2. Adhere to IRL Standards:

Follow the same standards of behavior and professionalism online that you would in real life. Avoid using offensive language, name-calling, or making inappropriate comments.

• Be ethical.
• Those are real people out there. Would you say it to their face? If you wouldn’t say it to their face, don’t post it online.
• Just like in real life, don't break the law. This includes following the rules of online platforms, respecting copyrights, and adhering to creative commons licenses.

3. Know Your Audience and Platform:

Communication rules can vary depending on the platform (e.g., a formal email to a professor vs. a group chat with classmates). Be mindful of your context and adjust your tone and content accordingly.

4. Respect Others' Time and Bandwidth:

Keep your communications concise and to the point. Avoid sending unnecessary, long, or irrelevant messages. Also, be prompt in responding to emails and texts, and let the sender know if you need more time to reply.

• Take care to be clear, polite, and constructive in your communication
• Don't spam people with unwanted messages.
• Think twice before sending a "reply all" response to an email, considering whether the message is truly relevant to everyone on the list.

5. Make Yourself Look Good Online:

Your written communication reflects on you. Take the time to check for spelling and grammar errors.

• Avoid YELLING capital letters, as they can be perceived as aggressive.
• Use correct punctuation and avoid excessive exclamation points or question marks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Don’t follow the crowd. Agreeing with a hurtful comment is as bad as posting one.

6. Professional Communication Requires a Signature:

In professional communication, always include your signature and other relevant information, such as contact details or school.

• As a student: For academic communication, always include your full name, student ID if useful, and the specific course and section number. Professors and teaching assistants often teach multiple classes and sections.
• As a teacher: Remember that parents with multiple children might not immediately know who you are or the context of your message. Always specify your name, subject area, and school. For individual communications, also include the student's name and their grade.

7. Share with Discretion:

Be careful about what you share about yourself online. Consider if you would be comfortable with a future employer, student, or parent seeing your posts.

• Remember that your digital footprint is likely permanent
• Your online interactions reflect on you. The people and organizations you follow or engage with can shape how others perceive you (professionally and personally).
• Build a positive Personal Learning Network (PLN). Connect with educators, thought leaders, and communities that support your growth and values. A strong PLN can inspire, inform, and elevate your practice.

8. Fact-Check Before Sharing:

Before you share or repost information, verify its accuracy to avoid spreading misinformation or hoaxes.

• Consult reliable fact-checking websites like Snopes, FactCheck.org, or the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) before sharing viral claims.
• Use a reverse image search to verify the origin of suspicious photos or videos
• Cross-reference the information with multiple, credible news sources. Be skeptical.

9. Respect Privacy:

Don't share private information about others without their permission. This includes forwarding emails, tagging people in photos without their consent, or sharing personal details. When sending emails to multiple people, use the BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) field to protect their privacy.

• Familiarize yourself with and adhere to school policies and federal laws like FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) regarding the privacy of student records and information.

10. Be Forgiving:

Be patient and understanding with others who may be new to online communication. Not everyone is familiar with the rules of netiquette, so be forgiving of their mistakes.  

• Assume good intentions. Written communication can easily be misinterpreted without the context of tone or body language.
• If you feel compelled to respond to a mistake, do so in a private message rather than a public forum.

11. Don't Feed the Flames:

Avoid escalating disagreements or getting drawn into divisive arguments. Cyber harassment is a serious issue, and engaging with a harasser often makes the situation worse. It is often best to step away from the discussion and avoid adding fuel to the fire.

• Know where to report serious online abuse or harassment. Most platforms have tools for reporting harmful behavior. Use them when needed to protect yourself and others.
• For school realted problems start by contacting your school principal or counselor, then escalate to the district office if needed; you can also use your district’s formal complaint form or contact the Iowa Department of Education for guidance

12. Don't Abuse Your Power:

• As an educator, you hold a position of trust and influence. Your words carry meaning and weight in your school and community.
• Use your knowledge and authority to support others, not to intimidate or manipulate.
• Lead by example and help create a respectful, inclusive online environment where everyone feels safe to learn and grow,

Other notes on Online Communication and Behavior

• Think before you post!
• Mind the Missing Cues: Electronic communication lacks facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice, which makes it easy for your message to be misinterpreted.
• The Power of Emojis: If appropriate, use emojis to help convey your intended tone and emotions.
• A Second Opinion: For important messages, consider having someone else read it before you send. You can also use a tool like goblin.tools/Judge to analyze the tone of your or the sender text.
• If you are an expert on a subject, share resources and references to help others learn. Do share expert knowledge: After all, you are an educator.
• ADA Title II: requires state and local governments to make their digital resources accessible to people with disabilities. While it is a legal requirement for them, its principles serve as a best practice for all online communication.
• Inclusive design is a proactive approach to creating materials that are accessible to the widest range of people from the start. This not only meets diverse needs but often improves the user experience for everyone, from those with disabilities to a person using a phone in bright sunlight.

Rules compiled by Magda Galloway and tailored for our pre-service teachers.

Adapted from The Core Rules of Netiquette Shea, V. (1994) San Francisco: Albion Books.