The discussion board allows users to read and write posts on a given topic or create new topics. Topics are grouped together into a class. Although a "class" in the discussion board can correspond to a class that is actually offered by a college or university, this does not need to be the case.
To use the system, one must be registered with the system. Registration is easy -- one simply completes a form on this website in which you pick a username and a password, and enters your first and last name and email address. If the username you picked is already taken, you will be prompted to enter another. This process continues until you have chosen a unique username.
To access the discussion board for a particular "class", one must be signed up for the class. The creator of the class determines whether anyone can sign up for the class or whether enrollment is restricted.
Once registered with the system and enrolled in a class in this discussion board, you can see the topics that have been created to date for the class. You can read all posts on a given topic or only those made since you looked at the posts on this topic -- the system keeps track of when you last visited. Posts are displayed in chronological order with the username of the submitter displayed in bold.
New posts can be entered either in plain text or HTML can be used to format text, create links, insert images, etc. If enabled by the creator of the class, the submitter can revise or delete their post once it has been submitted.
The user can also create a new topic.
If enabled by the creator of a class, users, if they so choose, can sign up to get an email whenever a post is made on a given topic. Thus the user need not go to the board to see if a post has been made or the content of the post. This election to receive emails on a given topic can be changed by the user at any time.
To create a new class, you must have "instructor" status. If you just want to participate in existing classes, student status (what you have after you initially register) is fine. To get your status changed to instructor, please email this request to wpegram@nvcc.edu with your username and justification. When your status has been changed, you will receive an email notifying you of the change.
As noted above, students can create new discussion topics within an existing class.
Last revised: April 25, 2003. Comments to William Pegram, wpegram@nvcc.edu