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[fingerpaint]

So, I am teaching a class this summer session that has a large online component (I also teach another class entirely online). I have a student forum available in my classes. It's primarily for them to use but I have the disclaimer that I will remove any inappropriate posts. I rarely have to do this.

I have a student that is enrolled in both classes and this person has just posted what I would call rant posts regarding the grading for recent tests. I have the feeling that this could quickly spiral out of control if I don't do something quick. Should I simply delete and send an email to the student that this sort of thing is inappropriate? I would rather not address it publicly, but I'm not sure that just letting it sit is a good idea either.

I've never encountered this issue before. My policies are clearly stated and regarded as fair from what I can tell. Usually, if a student has a complaint, they'll come talk to me, or at least send me a private message. What would be the best course of action here?

[infopri]

Yup, I'd pull it, with an explanation.  Leaving it there is just asking for trouble, on so many levels.

[fingerpaint]

Thanks for the advice (and backing up my gut feeling). Fortunately, no one has seen them (I can track views and there weren't any), so it'll be almost like they never happened. Now I have to decide how to address the offender in a firm yet kind manner (I'm still a little ticked, so I'll hold off for a little while).

[larryc]

Delete, and follow up with an email to the aggrieved student with a firm reminder about professionalism and the policies for dropping a class at your university.

[assocpolysciprof]

Make sure that you save a copy of the objectionable post to the discussion board as well as your private e-mail correspondence with the student. You might need this if the student decides to challenge the grade later in the semester or immediately goes to whine to your department chair or a dean. Also, in your correspondence with the student, be sure to quote the sections of your syllabus regarding appropriate and inappropriate posts to discussion boards.

[zuzu_]

Delete, and follow up with an email to the aggrieved student with a firm reminder about professionalism and the policies for dropping a class at your university.

The problem you describe is common in online classes because students often forget the professor is a real person and even "good" students say things they wouldn't dream of saying to your face or even send via email if thay had to face you in class the next day.

In my policies and in follow-up emails (like the one you plan to send), I always use the analogy of "Would you write this sort of email for your boss and expect to not to get fired?" This sometimes really helps some students understand the professionalism concept.

Also, if the student is not a repeat offender, keep in mind that the post may have been made in a moment of anger and s/he may really regret it already. Be understanding about this, allow the student to "save face" (ex:.."maybe you didn't realize the tone of your post was so ..."), and use it as teaching moment.

[infopri]

Now I have to decide how to address the offender in a firm yet kind manner (I'm still a little ticked, so I'll hold off for a little while).

Sounds like you already know this, so forgive me if I'm stating the obvious--but it's not always obvious to people who are angry, so it bears saying, just in case:

[obvious] You are right to wait (but not too long).  Never let your personal emotions or reactions guide your interactions with a student.  Those feelings must be set aside or they will absolutely derail your role as teacher.  [/obvious]

From your posts, I'd say your gut instinct was right on target, both in pulling the post and in waiting before confronting the student (regardless of the medium you choose).  And I use the word "confronting" loosely.  Your interaction doesn't have to be adversarial.  Depending on lots of things, you might decide simply to issue a "reminder" of the kind of content appropriate for the online system.

Good luck, fingerpaint.  Let us know how it turns out.

[spork]

Delete, and follow up with an email to the aggrieved student with a firm reminder about professionalism and the policies for dropping a class at your university.

And cc your department chair, or whoever is nominally in charge of summer online course offerings, on that email.

[fingerpaint]

Hi, thanks all for your sound advice. I issued my response early this morning. Almost immediately, I received a response from the student claiming that I misunderstood the posts and that I was basically squelching the right to speak freely with the person's peers. It was rather strongly worded. Now, how to respond to that one?

[vagarh]

In between

I have a student that is enrolled in both classes and this person has just posted what I would call rant posts regarding the grading for recent tests.

and

It was rather strongly worded. Now, how to respond to that one?

is it possible that there is any misreading or misinterpretation of the student's comments? Do you have any (non-identifying) bits that could show us what you're talking about?

[infopri]

Hi, thanks all for your sound advice. I issued my response early this morning. Almost immediately, I received a response from the student claiming that I misunderstood the posts and that I was basically squelching the right to speak freely with the person's peers. It was rather strongly worded. Now, how to respond to that one?

I'd invite the student to come to office hours to discuss the misunderstanding.  Do not address the actual complaint in your response.  At this point, email is no longer the appropriate venue for this discussion.  I doubt the student will follow through, frankly.  If he or she does show up, however, stay the course:  The post was inappropriate, you are the arbiter of what's appropriate, and the student retains the right to say whatever he or she wants to the other students--but not on your bulletin board, which has a specific purpose.

Good luck!

P.S.  Vagarh posted as I was typing.  Doesn't matter how the post was worded, IMO.  Presumably, the purpose of the bulletin board is to discuss the course content, not the instructor's grading policies.  If fingerpaint did misunderstand the rant/not-rant, he or she can apologize during the meeting--but the post (and any others like it) remain inappropriate.

[vagarh]

The post was inappropriate, you are the arbiter of what's appropriate, and the student retains the right to say whatever he or she wants to the other students--but not on your bulletin board, which has a specific purpose.
...
P.S.  Vagarh posted as I was typing.  Doesn't matter how the post was worded, IMO.  Presumably, the purpose of the bulletin board is to discuss the course content, not the instructor's grading policies.  If fingerpaint did misunderstand the rant/not-rant, he or she can apologize during the meeting--but the post (and any others like it) remain inappropriate.

Well, leaving aside the possibility you mention (that the bulletin board's purpose can include questions or comments on grading), there are certainly ways in which a discussion of course content could include or be motivated by a question of grading policy. An unclear syllabus, for example, could easily lead to discussions between students about course content and grading. The OP says that the course policies are clearly stated, but the discussion about plagiarism over in the Admin forum certainly shows (showed) that the syllbus-writer's perspective is not always 100% trustworthy.

Not saying this is the case here, but I don't think it does either the students or the instructor any favours to assume offense where none is intended. Like you said, there's no need to view the interaction as adversarial.

If the initial posts were rants, then I think that the OP followed the right course of action, and if the student's response to the OP's e-mail was strongly worded, then I would agree with Infopri that an office meeting is best.

[vagarh]

... but the discussion about plagiarism over in the Admin Department Chair forum certainly shows ...

[geonerd]

Almost immediately, I received a response from the student claiming that I misunderstood the posts and that I was basically squelching the right to speak freely with the person's peers. It was rather strongly worded. Now, how to respond to that one?

Do not get sucked into a first amendment arguement with the student. Their need for attention has already consumed too much of your energy. The student is free to email his peers or speak face to face with his peers or telephone his peers. Nothing is stopping him. As a previous poster stated, YOU have the responsibility to determine what is appropriate and professional on a course discussion board, comparable to the CHE fora moderator (or the US Supreme Court if his rant included anything about bong hits for Jesus). I second the suggestion to break off the email exchange and require the student to come discuss it in person.

[imawakenow]

[I second the suggestion to break off the email exchange and require the student to come discuss it in person.

Thirded.

My email policy is one round of exchanges. About 99% of the time, it's a student who initiates. I respond (very often with some version of, "Why don't you stop by my office at X time?"). After that, my response is always, "I think it's best if we discuss this during office hours or after class." All subsequent emails are ignored.

I got into a whole email thing with a student when I first started teaching, and it just wasn't pretty. And, as you know, once you hit send, you lose control over the communication.

Anyway, good luck. BTW, I think you made the right decision to take down the posts.