When you use a social medium in your course such as a discussion board or blog, consider starting off with some guidelines. Some aspects of social media are very beneficial to education, while others are best avoided.  Establishing expectations early can stop problems before they start.

Here’s an example set of guidelines to get you started:

1. Only post things that you would want everyone to know.
Ask yourself: Is this something I want everyone to see?

2. Do not share personal information.
Ask yourself: Could someone find me based on this information?

3. Think before you post.
Ask yourself: What could be the consequences of this post?

4. Consider your audience.
Ask yourself: Who is going to look at this, and how are they going to interpret my words?

5. Know how to give constructive feedback.
Ask yourself: Will this post help or hurt others?

6. Stay on topic.
Ask yourself: Does this post contribute to the discussion or distract from it?

7. Always cite media from other sources.
Ask yourself: Who is the original creator of this work?

Adapted from Kim Cofino’s “always learning,”
Cofino, K. (2009, September 6). [Web log message].
Retrieved from http://kimcofino.com/blog/2009/09/06/student-blogging-guidelines/