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4.1 Digital Citizenship and Etiquette Awareness

It is important to refrain from plagiarism under any circumstance, whether academic, profes-
sional, or personal. This includes when you are writing a paper for class, making a comment
in a discussion forum, doing a presentation, or engaging in social media. It is never appropri-
ate to present someone else’s ideas as your own.

A Good Digital Citizen Respects Copyright Laws

To be a good digital citizen in your Ashford University classes, you will be required to under-
stand and respect copyright laws and make sure you do not violate them by using others’
materials either inappropriately or without written permission. The following resource pro-
vides a brief overview of these laws and how to observe them: http://www.whoishostingthis
.com/resources/student-copyright.

A Good Digital Citizen Practices Online Etiquette

In any society, having good man-
ners and being polite are important
to ensure that people respect one
another and treat others appropri-
ately. As a good digital citizen, you
must also practice good manners. Over
the past few years, a system of online
etiquette has evolved about what is
considered polite and professional
behavior when using digital resources.

In the physical world, etiquette includes
unwritten rules of good behavior such
Iain Masterton/age fotostock/SuperStock
as holding the door open for the person With so many new forums for social networking, it’s
entering a building behind you, not important to learn the rules for online etiquette.
shouting or being rude in public, and
showing respect for your colleagues.
Online, similar rules are important to maintain a positive shared environment. Digital citi-
zens are careful not only about what they say online, but how they say it. One of the big-
gest problems with online communication is interpreting the writer’s tone. What we think is
short, sweet, and to the point, other people might interpret as rude, abrupt, or condescend-
ing. Always reread what you write before posting online to reduce the likelihood that what
you have written will be misunderstood.

The following is a brief list of ground rules for communicating in any online environment. In
the remainder of the module, we will look more closely at digital citizenship and etiquette in
the classroom, at work, and on social media.

• Always avoid offensive language, and reread what you write so it is unlikely to be
interpreted as offensive.
• Never share personal information or material about other people.

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