Establishing your virtual culture

As participants in a virtual classroom or meeting space, we collectively have opportunities to create the culture and norms of that space. Here are some general principles that can be helpful in establishing a culture which is inclusive and welcoming for all:

  • Establish community norms and agreements that support diverse participants & perspectives

    • Diversity in perspective, lived experiences, identities, and representations are key elements to achieving excellence in the classroom, workplaces, and in life.
    • Online classrooms face both similar and unique challenges as in-person classes related to inclusion and exclusion, access, equity, and power dynamics
      • Tip: If you already have community agreements and values from your in-person classroom, take time to adapt and share those for online use. If you do not yet have a set of agreements and values, this is a good time to create one as a way to establish a respectful, inclusive and welcoming environment.
      • Tip: In the course of discussion, if a participant expresses a point of view that differs from what others are saying, thank them for being courageous enough to share that view.
      • Tip: Not all participants will experience the online environment in the same way – based on outside circumstances, access to technology, space considerations, learning styles, disabilities, and other factors. Be sure your norms and agreements account for this.

  • Demonstrate mutual respect between participants

    • Showing regard for the experiences, rights, traditions, and cultural expressions of others is the foundation for demonstrating respect.
    • Encourage participants to acknowledge and build on the comments of others, rather than ignoring them, even if they disagree.
      • Tip: Model saying "and" rather than "but" in responding to (building on) another person's contribution.
      • Tip: Discuss the difference between respectfully conveyed disagreement vs. a personal attack.

  • Request respectful screen names and use of pronouns

    • Stereotypes, troupes, mis-gendering, microagressions, and/or remarks that are intended or unintended to hurt, harm, or demean is not allowable in any space or format on the UC Berkeley campus. 

      • Tip: Establish a practice in your class of using their names, not phrases which could be distracting or offensive to other participants.
      • Tip: Invite, though do not make it a requirement, the use of pronouns in screen names, so that participants can be referred to in the manner of their choice during discussions. If participants do not include pronouns, ask the group to refer to those participants by their name.

  • Adopt inclusive norms related to online video participation

    • Depending on the circumstances and external environments from which participants are joining online classes or meetings, they may or may not be comfortable participating by video. While many people experience video as a way to enhance belonging, be mindful that some participants may find video requirements an obstacle to involvement or an added stress. 

      • Tip: Be thoughtful and flexible about requests for video participation in classes and meetings, and avoid making assumptions about why people choose not to turn on their cameras.
      • Tip: If video is used, care should be taken with screen backgrounds to ensure they do not include flashing lights or other visuals that can make it hard for some people to participate.
      • Tip: if video is used, participants should be mindful of the background that appears behind them, keeping privacy considerations in mind.

  • Promote affirming language use in chat rooms

    • Chat rooms are designed for clarifying and probing questions. It is a space to make comments that will add value to the discussion and/or expand knowledge about the content.

      • Tip: Communicate norms for chat rooms at the beginning of each class or meeting (including the use of emojis or other chat functions), and request adjustments as needed.

      • Tip: Consider the time and attention required to effectively monitor group chats, and use the chat function in ways that are sustainable for all involved.

  • Address violations of virtual norms immediately

    • Demonstrating values through immediate actions when individuals violate the norms of the virtual space is extremely important when creating safe spaces. All participants should be responsible for creating a safe, healthy, inclusion and belonging space for all.
      • Tip: call out chat or other contributions that violate clear class norms; explain why a comment may have harmful impact, regardless of intent. Explain that, just like in a physical classroom, misconduct in a virtual space may be subject to campus disciplinary action. 
      • Tip: Encourage "upstander" behavior, i.e. being courageous about communicating to the meeting host when acts violate these norms.