When
electronic chatrooms, blackboards, and posting software came about they were
reasonably primitive. When these mediums were used for instructional purposes,
it became increasingly apparent that things had to change because what you'd
end up with was a big fat mess of lots of endless postings. D2L is an
information management system, nothing more. It is fairly rudimentary, and
not intuitive in any way, it is not glitzy, nor should you make the mistake
of thinking it obeys the rules of other software. Yes, it needs improvement, but
right now it is the best device we have for managing on-line conversations.
Try to think
of it as a laundry room. I am trying to put the laundry in the right basket for
the right persons, and in those baskets of clothes are sometimes sorted, other
times I say, "Sort them yourselves." While there are general hampers, and
the communally used washer and dryer, there are certain piles of clothes that
cannot be used or worn by others.
Designated
areas within our D2L discussion area:
First
Contact -
practice area -- this are will disappear after the first visit.
1.
Biographies - Telling us about yourself - Open to all
2. Let 's Just Chat - for banter, chatter, inspiration, professional
links, and recommendations, and offering help on problems outside content.
Open
to all.
3.
Ask
Leslie - the
old cyber prof speaks - Please
restrict this area to questions that all might be interested in. If you have
personal questions, send those to me via e-mail and watch
this area for answers.
Open to all.
4.
The Forum -
These are for our group discussions and open forums Open to all
5.
Segments 1-4
- Specific areas for discussion among and between POD members and between
PODS. Areas for initial discussions are POD specific.
Pod
General Areas where you will post your summaries - Open for all. Segment
5 has its own discussion area.
6.
Pod
Webquest discussion areas
for comments and required postings for each webquest. POD
restricted.
7. Project
Reports - The designated areas for
posting project summaries and posting reactions to peer projects and reading others' feedback and comments. Open to all
8. D2L Drop Box - Designated areas
for filing assignments -- this is not in the discussion area but in a separate
file area -- see top navigation bar. Restricted
access to individual class participants
9. Beginning Area Message Board
- As you enter the class's space, you
will find a message board. I use this to post pertinent messages, and often
my reactions to your work and discussions. Watch this area for reminders,
summaries, general impressions, directed musings, prompts,
and questions. You can react to my comments in the FORUM.
Where
the heck to do I go? 
Contact
Leslie