An Introduction to Conferencing
Conferencing is the term we use to refer to online group discussions or conversations. It includes classes, seminars, discussion groups, open space conferences and other forms.
Each conference has a host
(called an moderator
by Catalyst). The host answers questions, facilitates discussion, keeps
the conference focused, and mediates any conflicts.
Within
a conference are specific topics
(sometimes called items)
of conversation, followed by the responses (sometimes called posts) members make to the items.
Within
each item, responses are listed in chronological order, from the earliest
to the most recent. By scrolling down your screen, you can read responses
in the order they were posted.
For
instance, in a conference named "Entertainment", we may have an item named
"TV shows we love to hate". In that item, you can read the posts one after
the other, in the chronological order in which they were posted. Example:
(First post - the item starter:) This topic is to talk
about the television shows we love, hate, or watch in spite of ourselves.
What makes a good television show? What makes bad TV? Why do we watch?
What is so compelling?
(response:) Has anyone seen that new sitcom about living in Iceland? What
is THAT about? I don't understand why they made a TV show about life in
Iceland, I don't think it's very interesting. But I watch it anyway -
I really like the guy that plays the dad.
(response:) Yeah, it's got great acting. But that's a cold comfort.
(repsonse:) Oh funny - LOL! Cold comfort. Really. The actors are pretty
good, but couldn't they give them something a little more interesting?
Or is life in Iceland really that boring?
Then
you might have another item called "Let's go to the movies!" Example:
(First post - the item starter:) Movies are such a big
part of our culture. Let's talk about what movies we have seen, want to
see, what we like and what we don't like. No spoilers please!
(response:) I went to see Titanic yesterday. I thought it was fabulous!
I enjoyed it so much I didn't even notice that it was over 3 hours long!
And I just LOVE DiCaprio!
(response:) I didn't think it was so good. And I don't get this DiCaprio
craze. He doesn't look that good to me!
(response:) Titanic was okay - what took you so long to see it? I think
Saving Private Ryan is much better. I think any movie that sparks such
strong emotion is very well done. Although I think I might have nightmares
for a month.
As
you can see, the individual postings (also called responses) are contained
within the item which is focused on a specific topic. The items are then
contained within the conference, which is usually a much more general
category.
Discussions
like these often continue over days, weeks, months, even years. It's not
like real-time chat, where everyone is talking at their computers at the
same time. The length of posts may vary, too, from very short ones (as
in the examples) to much longer and complex posts. Depending on how your
system is maintained, these discussions may be available for years at
a time.
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