Abstract:

The new realities caused by distance learning in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic have posed tasks for the participants in the educational process that require reflection and prompt solution.

The aim of the research is to analyze some ethical problems that arise when communicating with students in an online environment, to find out what the causes are and to determine ways to overcome them.

The relevance of the study is due to the digital transformation of our society and its structures. During distance learning, students and teachers changed their face-to-face communication to online one. There is a need, therefore, for the norms of digital etiquette, respecting boundaries of official and unofficial virtual communication in order to avoid addressee´s psychological discomfort.

The methodological basis of the research is a transdisciplinary approach to the study of computer-mediated communication in a global context, using such methods as analysis, description, and observation.

The set of rules for acceptable online behavior is subject to constant change and adjustment. The authors examine the history of the issue, starting with the codes of behavior and communication on the Web, established by Internet communities in the nineties of the last century: the culture of communication on FidoNet (in Russian language), Netiquette Guidelines in RFC 1855 (in English language).

The Netiquette recommendations determined the basic rules for written communication and the cultural behavior in the virtual environment at such stages of Internet development as Web 1.0, Web 2.0. and belong to the following three categories:
a) psychological (communicative style);
b) technical (message size limits, Caps Lock use, etc.);
c) administrative (admissibility of flaming, advertising, etc.).

Contemporary digital etiquette reflects the properties of the new Web 3.0. communication and its transition to Web 4.0. One of the new Web characteristics is the so-called phygital environment, where the interactions of physical reality and digital are mixed. In this context, the article sets out some considerations on digital etiquette regarding online teaching, pointing out verbal, visual, organizational, technical, and administrative details.

The authors find it useful to develop and include into the educational process a course, concerning digital etiquette at the university to make communication with students more effective and to develop the necessary communicative competence.

Keywords:

Digital etiquette, distance education, online environment, computer-mediated communication.