Be conversational:
It is easier to be curt than conversational, but terse correspondence can lead to hurt feelings. If you add a little warmth to your communication, you'll quickly notice that it goes a long way toward fostering good will.

Maintain a positive tone:
If you want your course experience to be positive, be upbeat. It's contagious. Encourage and support your team and classmates regularly. When you notice good work and/or great effort, congratulate it. Virtual kindness will come back to you.

Ask for clarification:
Misunderstandings happen all the time online. There is no body language or gesturing to accompany typed words. To avoid hurt feelings and/or misinformation, it is important to ask for clarification when you are confused. Expect the best of people. Give fellow classmates a chance to explain before reacting negatively. A great way to ask for clarification is "I'm confused about the message you sent earlier. Can you explain what you meant by…?".

Apologize early and often:
If you think you may have offended someone, it's best to offer a quick apology.

Forgive others' mistakes:
Communicating online is new for many learners. Everyone makes mistakes. Practice forgiveness. It will make your life easier and you will be modeling effective online communication.

Use humor:
Humor adds a terrific dimension to online communication and coursework. Using emoticons like :) smiling, ;) winking, :O surprised, etc. help to shape your online persona and nurture a fun class atmosphere.

Read before you send:
Always consider how your postings will be "read" before you click the Send button. Go back and re-read carefully checking for possible miscommunications.

TIP

Remember the Golden Rule

This could be the most important rule regarding online communication -- treat others (online) as you would like to be treated (online). Be respectful and polite. It seems obvious, but common courtesies are often lost in cyber environments.