I'm getting a bit dizzy from all the overlapping topics we're taking on,
which leads me to look for a course environment more bounded than an email
listserv such as this. (Could be that I'm just dizzy from beginning of
semester, in general!)
I think web-based, threaded discussion(s) would be valuable for two
reasons:
* focus the back-and-forth with a resulting indexed archive;
* Bill's point in an earlier message about participation and group
size--threaded discussion would allow us to set up multiple small groups
with the ability for all to lurk on others' discussions. (The purposeful
browsing of others' discussions could be part of the seminar's regular
activities.)
I'm assuming here that the model we're considering is robust interaction
online, not simply a record of learning interactions that take place
locally. For the latter, a listserv _would_ serve.
My inclination at this point would be to wade in the waters -- get going
with one of the options that's been put forward and then continue our
discussion within that environment around course structure and readings.
That way, we can take an early measure of whether access is a problem.
I'm also assuming that only a small subset of this entire list is
interested in this seminar. I'm aware that once we go offlist, we lose the
good input of those who might have a lot to offer but are not interested,
ultimately, in the seminar.
It seems that either Gordon's offer of KF or K's offer of webboard (sorry
for the Kafka-esque use of first initials; this newbie doesn't know your
name yet!) are sound. I examined KF before the server crash this weekend;
to take advantage of what it offers, seems to me, would require that
someone experienced in its use take on the task of designing learning
activities for the first weeks of the seminar. Of course, one of the main
"products" right now is the design of the seminar itself.
Webboard, as a more familiar tool to me, seems less of an immediate
challenge. Maybe that's what we want at this point.
David
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