We are, of course, bored with course boards: an online alternative to formal course meetings

Abstract

This paper discusses the implementation of an online course board, an attempt to conduct formal course meetings using simple web-based threaded bulletin board technologies. This technique seeks to address some of the problems of conventional meetings where individuals can dominate proceedings, most attendees waste much of the time being bored and there is a heavy investment of time and money for little direct benefit. Although it provides solutions to some of the problems of traditional face to face meetings, the online discussion mechanism suffers from a number of weaknesses which negate many of the potential advantages. The paper describes some procedural solutions to these weaknesses that have been implemented, and technical solutions that are being incorporated into a purpose-built environment for running course boards.