Hello Class,

About every other week, we will have an ongoing discussion topic. Sometimes it will be sparked off by a reading, sometimes you’ll be asked to do some research and post examples that demonstrate your opinions. Always, you’ll be asked to participate in the discussion with clarity and thoughtfulness.

For clarity, your topic will be labeled with the semester week. For example “Week 1 Proper Online Discussion Techniques”.

You will have one full week from the time it’s posted to share your thoughts. This will be counted towards your Participation Grade.

Guidelines for participation:

  • DO READ the whole thread.
  • Comment on the question after checking out any materials provided.
  • Don’t repeat other students.
  • Do reply to other students and build on their ideas.

Good Participation is to comment at least 2x per discussion. Once at the beginning and once at the end, after reading the thread so your comments are relevant.

For this particular discussion, you can just say you understand or ask a question about our course discussions here. 

CLASS CONTRACT ON ONLINE BEHAVIOR

This classroom is a Safe Space for learning, where we can all share our ideas and feelings and opinions honestly.

These are our Core Values:
Privacy, Supportive Community, and Authentic Non-Violent Communication

WHEREAS: All classroom participants (students and teacher) agree to abide by Rules that keep the space safe:

  1. We will never repeat, post, or re-post any words or images, thoughts or feelings, that our fellow student shares with us here – either verbally or digitally – to the outside world. That means: we agree to not talk about private things we say here with friends, family, etc., and we definitely agree not to post or share anything private or personal thing we hear here on the Internet. (Privacy)
    • I AGREE TO THIS RULE
  2. We always say something positive, first, before saying anything critical about a fellow student’s work. (Supportive Community)
    • I AGREE TO THIS RULE
  3. We always argue “ad rem, non ad hominem”** when venting our opinions in class. That means, we agree to criticize the work – which is constructive criticism – and speak to the point – which is constructive criticism – and not criticize the person, themselves. For example: we never say, “You are such a bad writer!,” which is personal, and hurtful, but instead we say, “this paragraph is not working for me,” which is to the point.  (*”Argumentum ad rem, non ad hominem” is a Latin phrase that, literally translated, means Argue to the point, not to the person.)