11 Code of conduct
Learning happens when we feel safe and supported. Since we want you to learn during this workshop, we want you to feel safe and supported. We also want all learners to have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience while participating in this workshop. So we expect all learners to show respect, kindness, and courtesy to other learners throughout the whole workshop and to help create a positive and safe learning environment.
While most people and (sub-)cultures have an implicit, assumed set of practices and expectations for behaviour, we believe strongly in effective and clear communication. This includes making what is normally implicit expectations to instead be explicit expectations.
Teachers and helpers will uphold and embody this code in all spaces and activities of the workshop, and we expect you as the learner to do the same. In fact, by participating in this workshop, you indicate that you agree to follow these explicit expectations. We have this code of conduct to communicate to you that we really value and want to nurture a space that encourages and enhances learning. Otherwise, why would we have a workshop if you can’t or aren’t able to effectively learn anything from it! 🤪
11.1 Expected behavior
We want a welcoming, supportive, safe, and fun environment not only for ourselves as teachers and helpers, but also for all learners, regardless of background and identity. This means that we do not tolerate behaviour that is disrespectful to any of our teachers, helpers, or learners (see below for unacceptable behaviour).
We encourage the following kinds of behaviours in all interactions during this workshop that will foster a positive and professional learning environment:
- Show kindness, courtesy, and respect towards other workshop members.
- All interactions should be professional regardless of platform: either online or in-person.
- Be aware of your words by using welcoming and inclusive language. Words matter, a lot!
- Be respectful to different viewpoints and experiences.
- Gracefully accept constructive criticism.
- Focus on what is best for everyone in the workshop.
11.2 Unacceptable behavior
While we assume you will not do these behaviours, we want to clearly communicate what unacceptable behaviour is. It is any behaviour, as actions or words, that excludes, intimidates, or causes discomfort to others. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on characteristics that include, though are not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, citizenship, nationality, ethnic or social origin, pregnancy, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, religion or belief (or lack thereof), membership of a national minority, property, age, education, socio-economic status, technical choices, and experience level. We of course also don’t tolerate verbally or physically violent behaviour towards others.
Examples of unacceptable behavior includes:
- Written or verbal comments that exclude people on the basis of membership of any specific group.
- The display of sexual or violent images.
- Unwelcome sexual attention, advances, and/or physical contact.
- Sustained disruption of workshop sessions or communications.
- Insults or put downs.
- Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or exclusionary jokes.
11.3 Consequences of unacceptable behavior
Learners who are asked, either in person or online, to stop any inappropriate behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a learners engages in behaviour that violates this code of conduct, the organizers, teachers, or helpers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or removing them from the workshop.
If you feel in any way unsafe or mistreated, you may contact us privately—all communication is confidential.
Thank you for helping make this a welcoming, friendly workshop for all 😄
Acknowledgements: Large portions of this code of conduct were taken and modified from other codes of conduct, specifically Software Carpentry and UofTCoders.