Commenting Guidelines

SPS | Distance Learning Blog Comment Guidelines

Like the discussion boards in an online classroom, the comment threads on our blog are a place for the free exchange of ideas. We expect the following behaviors from our commenters:

Respect. Education and teaching methods can be deeply personal topics, and it is likely that commenters will disagree with each other and with the original post from time to time. Discussion and debate are encouraged, so long as all involved remain respectful of different viewpoints. Personal attacks, insults, threats, and other such behavior will not be tolerated.

Professionalism. The SPS Distance Learning website and blog are representative of the Northwestern University community. Participants in that community are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner. Avoid inappropriate or irrelevant comments and derailing discussions.

Privacy. Respect the privacy of colleagues and especially of students. When sharing stories of classroom experiences, do not use students’ real names, and try to avoid giving information that would otherwise identify them.

Quality. When commenting on a post or replying to another comment, try to make sure that the information being shared is valuable and insightful. Share your experiences, knowledge, and opinions to further the discussion. In addition, review your comment before posting to make sure that it is free of typos or grammatical or spelling errors.

Currently, all comments are moderated before appearing on the site. While commenters are not required to create a WordPress account, a valid e-mail must be provided in order to post. This e-mail will not be visible or accessible to any other commenters. Commenters are encouraged to maintain a consistent identity through the use of a standard screenname.