Since this is an "Internet Literacy" class, we will use a Web-based forum as part of our class discussions and class participation.  Unlike "Instant Messaging," which is synchronous and disappears when the people stop "talking, Townhall, based on Web Crossing software, allows us to post long discussions (and even course material, some assignments and links) on Web server space, which we can revisit.  Townhall also allows for real-time chat, and we will try that out also.  But our primary means of cyber class discussion will be townhall and you will be graded on your weekly postings and also on your participation in the small group led discussion.

Requirements for participation in Townhall discussions:
Your responses to weekly townhall discussions will make up a significant part of your final participation grade, worth 15% of the final grade.

What time to post? Townhall is available for writing and reading twenty fours hours a day (barring server problems); therefore you can post anytime you like, as long as you post within the time limit. 

Length of responses to readings? Post at least a 250 word (approximately) response to that week's readings (which could be in the  Internet Literacy (Hofstetter) text, in the townhall folder for that week's discussion, or on a Web site.  Try to address the major themes of that week's discussion.  Pull out examples from the readings to support your points. Also, feel free to refer to comments made by other class members in their postings.  Feel free to provide links to Web sites, where appropriate. The responses should be informal and easy to read.  You will not be graded on your writing style, 

Suggestions: Create your response in Wordpad or Notepad, then copy and paste into the townhall "window."  This way if the server goes down or your computer crashes, you will not have to recreate your text.  You can also create your response in html and past the html coded version (not the wysiwyg version) in the "window."  In this way you can neatly format your response and include working links, where appropriate. 

Warning: Please do not use MS Word to create your html.  Townhall does not translate Microsoft proprietary tags. I don't allow using Word for creating html in any of my classes, anyway.