The Threaded Discussion is at ecollege. You may log on at ==>> http://smconline.org

You are required to make regular (at least once per week) contributions to the threaded discussion. Such submissions may be questions that you are interested in discussing or replies to questions or comments made by others. The subject matter can be anything relevant to our class. This is to be an asynchronous, open forum for exchanging ideas and a resource for getting help from your cyber classmates. It is like talking to the whole class without having to deal with speakers anxiety! If you want, you may exchange email addresses here too.  

Note: The cumulative grade for threaded discussions is computed at the end of the semester.

Netiquette

In any social interaction, certain rules of etiquette can lead to more enjoyable and productive communication. The Internet is no different -- in fact, there's even a special word for it: "Netiquette!" The following tips are good rules of thumb for any online communication. 
1. Never forget that the person on the other side is a human being. Even though you are using a computer to communicate don't forget that other people are on the receiving end. Millions of people all over the world may be reading your words! Avoid personal attacks. Don't speak (type) hastily -- try not to say anything to others that you would not say to them in a room full of people. Remember that you are playing an important role in building an online community (Your ideas may reverberate in cyberspace for millennia to come. Cyber archaeologists may be studying your communications to learn about the 21st century when computers could not yet think.) -- and we all want this community to be a good, friendly place. 
2. Be brief in your email (but not too brief with your threaded discussions - about 1 paragraph is appropriate). Other participants will appreciate your ability to stay on topic. If you say what you want to say succinctly, it will have greater impact. 
3. Your messages reflect on YOU -- be proud of them. Although you may meet thousands of people through the Internet, chances are you won't meet many of them in person. Most people will only know you by what you say, and how well you say it. Take time to make sure that you are proud of the messages you send. Take time to make sure your messages are easy to read and understand. 
4. Use descriptive Subject headings in your messages. The subject line of your message is there to help people decide whether or not they want to read it. Use the subject line to tell people what your message is about. For example, a subject like "Homework 2 - reactions to The Age of Spiritual Machines" is much more informative than "homework". 
5. Think about your audience. Stay on topic. 
6. Be careful with humor and sarcasm. Without the voice inflections and body language of personal communications, it is easy for a remark meant to be funny to be misinterpreted. You can convey the emotions that words alone cannot express by using such online conventions as "smileys." :- ) 
7. Summarize what you are following up. When you are making a follow-up comment to someone else's message, be sure to summarize the parts of the message to which you are responding. Summarization is best done by including appropriate quotes from the original message. Don't include the entire message, since this could be irritating to people who have already read it. 
8. Give back to the Community. Credit information to the people who sent it to you. Likewise, be a "giver" as well as a "taker" in this online community. If you have good and valuable information to share, please do so in the appropriate place. 
9. Try not to repeat what has already been said. Read responses to messages before you chime in, so that you are not needlessly repetitive. And make sure your responses have substance --answers like "Yup" and "I agree" probably won't be widely appreciated. 
10. Cite appropriate references. If you are using facts to support a cause, state where they came from.