Instructions for participants of the e-course Security and Privacy in the Digital Environment

To ensure effective collaboration, we have defined a set of rules for appropriate behavior in the e‑course.

1. Respect other participants as if they were in the same room with you. Maintain a culture of appreciation and constructive dialogue. Behind every username is a real person—kindness and empathy are key to a positive learning environment.

2. Use professional and clear language. Aim for grammatically correct writing, avoid using all caps (which may be interpreted as shouting), and express your thoughts clearly. Inappropriate or offensive messages are not acceptable.

3. Stay on topic and be concise. Your comments, responses, and messages should relate to the subject and be structured in a way that others can easily understand. Clear and focused communication benefits both you and your peers.

4. Participate actively and on time. Your engagement contributes to the quality of shared learning. Check announcements regularly, complete tasks within deadlines, and take part in discussions.

5. Protect privacy and confidentiality. Do not share other participants’ personal data without their explicit consent. Be cautious when sharing your own information in public course spaces.

6. Do not post promotional or unsolicited content. The course is not a place for advertising, chain messages, or political messaging. The focus should remain on course content and mutual learning.

7. Express disagreement constructively. Direct criticism toward the content or idea, not the person. If you disagree, support your viewpoint with arguments while respecting different perspectives.

8. Use appropriate communication channels. For technical or organisational questions, use the designated forums or contact course mentors through official channels. Informal communication is welcome in the spaces intended for it, as long as basic courtesy is maintained.

9. Prepare for participation in virtual meetings. If the course includes video sessions, it is recommended to use your camera (when possible), stay in a quiet environment, and speak only when you have a comment or question. Respect others’ time and avoid disrupting the session.

10. Act in accordance with ethical and legal standards. Respect copyright, institutional policies, and applicable laws. Unauthorised use of materials, plagiarism, or sharing confidential information is not permitted.

This e‑course is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike 4.0 International license. When using any part of the material, we recommend attributing the work in the following way:

Žagar M. (2025). Security and Privacy in the Digital Environment. 1st edition of the CARNET e‑course. Retrieved from the link.

Why these rules? The aim is to ensure a high‑quality, inclusive, and professional learning environment in which everyone feels comfortable.

What if the rules are violated? If participants do not follow the rules, course facilitators may issue a warning and, in more serious cases, take further steps in accordance with institutional policies.

Who is responsible? All course participants share responsibility for maintaining a positive and professional atmosphere.