Peer Review

Core Rules of Netiquette

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Mar 16, 2007 by Information Technology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This Web site provides a brief explanation of suggested behaviors for use on the Internet, presented in ten rules. The content is excerpted from the book "Netiquette" by Virginia Shea, originally published in 1994. Its principles are still relevant. This is a ncie overview of netiquette rules for new users. It can be used as a refresher course. The publisher is Albion Books (E-publishing).
Type of Material:: Lecture/Presentation, reference material.
Recommended Uses:: Could be used with an Introduction to the Internet-type course or module to introduce the topic of appropriate online behavior or to supplement a lecture on that topic. "Live&" examples of inappropriate behaviors (spam, flaming) might be a helpful adjunct. Anyone who writes on a daily basis (including e-mail communication) should read this book to improve communication at work and in online environments. This would be useful even to learners who are working with technical support staff for the first time. Technical support staff should read this book.
Technical Requirements:: The site is all text. A supplementary quiz requires JAVA. A web browser with Internet connection is the only requirement.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The goals are to orient learners to the appropriate behavior online in an environment such as user group, online chat rooms, and email.
Target Student Population:: Students new to the Internet. This could be college students in any degree program. It could also be high school students or other new Web users.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: No prerequisite knowledge is needed. However, the content will be more meaningful to people who have had some experience online. Experience with chat rooms is useful but not necessary.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Clear and concise.
Concerns:: None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Material is easy to understand and includes everyday analogies and some interesting examples from real life. It will help beginners understand how to communicate in this new medium. The entire book is also available online. A final quiz is available; feedback is provided. This is a potentially effective couse which could be broken down into modules with brief scenarios to keep users on their toes.
Concerns:: Concepts are simple and repetitive. They may be helpful for a newcomer to the Internet, but users with more advanced skills will probably not find it useful. Additional interactivity could be added to each segment in the form of sample behavior snippets that the user evaluates for appropriateness. The site contains a lot of information to absorb for first time users.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: Material is clearly written and flows easily. Each rule is written at a comfortable length for Web readers. Each is self-contained. Navigation is provided among them and to the Contents.
Concerns:: There are a lot of outdated links; in addition, it would have been useful to have *one* link to Albion and links to chapters at the bottom and at the top of the page. In addition, the quiz runs in Internet Explorer, but not in Firefox.

Other Issues and Comments:: This is a nice module to read but interactivity in forms of scenarios and quizzes at the end of each module would have been helpful. In addition, users' interest would be piqued by having an introduction with a quiz at the beginning of the text. Perhaps some examples of appropriate and inappropriate communication (chat room screenshots without identifying information) would be helpful as visual cues. Pehaps the author could add a little art to the site to make it more visually appealing. Otherwise, the text is very clean and easy to read.
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