OBSERVATIONS
There is no right or wrong answer in developing your forum.
There are advantages and disadvantages to any choice. Think
carefully about the structure, and if you are creating a forum,
make sure the guidelines are clear.
Membership, for example, can be open or closed. What are the
advantages and disadvantages?
A few years ago there was an online discussion about the a
certain international environmental group. Employees complained
that while the discussion was helpful, the organizers (not the
institution itself) negated their participation.
In 2004 the Indigenous Tourism Rights International hosted
the online Rethinking Tourism Certification Conference. Active
participation was limited to indigenous people though anyone
who registered could consult the discussion.
LEARNING CURVE
One of the most difficult things about organizing or participating
in an online conference is that we all have different comfort
levels ... and that's not immediately obvious on the Web. We
don't see, for example, the nod of a head or a grimmace, indicating
understanding or confusion.
Rookie users require hand holding (metaphorically speaking).
Organizers need to make the guidelines clear and (if needed)
provide one on one consultation.
SUGGESTIONS
1) Make a good impression! For longer posts, use a word processing
program. Why? Any steps that help you avoid spelling or grammatical
mistakes will be appreciated by readers. Most forum software,
does not allow you to edit your messages afterward.
2) If you want personal responses from friends and colleagues,
send personal emails. When you know who might be interested
in what you are doing, let them know directly!
3) Don't try to do everything or be everywhere at once. There
are thousands of forums and bulletin boards. Budget time to
participate in a few.
CREATING YOUR OWN FORUM, GROUP OR CONFERENCE
Online publication and networking is easier than ever. You
can create online forums on the fly with Yahoo
and Topica.
Other software, just as Phpbb,
is easy to add to a pre-existing site.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Before you create a group, ask colleagues the following questions:
What is the objective of the forum?
How long will the forum last?
Do any other forums have similar objectives?
Should the forum be conducted online a web page, via email
or both?
Who can participate?
Do participants pay?
In what language will the discussion be conducted?
What is the danger of spam?
WHEN FORUMS GO BAD
The biggest challenge for a moderator (and forum participants)
is keeping the fire burning. If moderators do not focus the
dialogue and keep participants motivated, the groups die a slow
death, or as one colleague describes it, 'siesta-cide.'
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