Understanding Incivility in Online Teaching.

Abstract This article addresses issue of incivility in online teaching and learning. Incivility is defined within context of face-to-face and online learning environments. Certain acts of incivility are explored as well as methods for prevention and reduction. Because academic dishonesty is becoming more prevalent, cheating and plagiarism are examined. Finally, concept of developing and maintaining online culture is explored. Introduction The history of higher education has been threaded with instances of deception, incivility, bullying, bias, harassment, discrimination, inequity, and inequality (Twale & De Luca, 2008). According to Nilson (2003), incivility has increased because the academy has changed in many ways over last 20-plus years that have probably exacerbated behavioral and disciplinary problems (p. 56). The diversity of students is a major cause. Today's students do not share the traditional academic values, norms, and communication styles (p.56). Nilson suggests that college student and college teacher relationship has become more impersonal, thus generating an atmosphere of distrust and indifference (p. 56). As a result, a significant amount of attention over last two decades has been toward prevalent problem of incivility within classroom (Amada, 1999; Boice, 1996; Braxton & Bayer, 2005; Carbone, 1999; Davis, 1993; Delucia & Iasenza, 1995; Eble, 1988; Feldman, 2001; Galbraith, 2008; Galbraith & Jones, 2008; Gonzalez & Lopez, 2001; Nilson, 2003; Rowland & Srisukho, 2009; Royce, 2000). The incivility issue has been extended into a different direction with rapid growth and increase of distance education and online teaching and learning. Along with this endeavor come new unanswered questions and unsolved issues as it relates to online teaching (Galbraith & Jones, 2009). This article examines issue of incivility in online teaching. Defining acts of incivility are explored. In addition, acts of uncivil classroom behavior in face-to-face settings are compared to online situations in an effort to determine if these types of incivility have as much validity and meaning when teaching online. How to prevent and respond to acts of incivility are examined as well. Because academic dishonesty is becoming more prevalent, a detailed discussion on cheating and plagiarism is presented. A discussion is offered on importance of how to develop and maintain an online cultural setting. Defining Incivility According to Galbraith and Jones (2009), term incivility has been defined and interpreted in different ways. Some definitions place an emphasis on only student, while others incorporate teacher into equation. Galbraith (2008) suggests that incivility occurs when rules of conduct are broken by students and teachers. Feldman (2001) defined incivility (2001) as any action that interferes with a harmonious and cooperative learning atmosphere. Ferris (2002) indicates that lack of decorum, manners, deportment, and politeness indicates presence of incivility. He states that civility and incivility are filtered through culture as customs, folkways, mores, and other sociocultural expectations. These things can be present in classroom settings, and with time can be created in online situations. Other authors such as Morrissette (2001) and Phillips and Smith (2003) focus their definitions on intentional behavior of students to disrupt teaching and learning encounter of others. Finding an acceptable and uniform definition of incivility seems like a daunting task since little has been directly focused toward online teaching and learning. Clarification of a definition can perhaps be generated after an examination of some acts of incivility. These acts of incivility will be presented in an effort to determine if these acts are indicative only of classroom settings, or if they can be applied to online setting as well. …