- Will you reduce the number of postings in the main window by archiving postings?
- Will you allow students to remain anonymous to peers by using pseudonyms?
- How will students learn why you want them to use EPost and what you hope they will get out of it?
- What content should postings contain and what rules of conduct should students follow?
- How can you help students make effective use of the subject lines?
- What are your guidelines for length of postings?
- How will you alert students to preference options?
Archiving is a feature in EPost that allows you to have postings in the main window moved to an archive window. For your convenience, EPost can be set to do this automatically - every Sunday at midnight, for example.
Archiving regularly (weekly, monthly or other deadlines):
- Helps keep download time to a minimum (by reducing number of postings).
- Unclutters the main window, reducing the need to scroll through a long list of postings.
- Keeps older postings accessible - by clicking on "archived messages," users can read earlier messages.
But keep in mind:
- "Out of sight, out of mind" - postings that no longer appear in the main window may be forgotten.
- Also, once a message is archived, although it can still be read, it cannot be replied to. Anyone wanting to reply to an archived posting would need to start a new thread in the main window.
EPost allows you the option of letting students choose pseudonyms when they post.
Using pseudonyms allows:
- More open discussion because students may feel more comfortable expressing dissenting opinions.
- Sense of safety for shy students or those worried about sounding "stupid."
- Fewer opportunities for personal statements/comments.
- Anonymity can discourage accountability - especially in controversial discussions.
- As the EPost Owner, you will have access to a master list of student names and pseudonyms, so you may want to let your students know you can trace their comments for grading and accountability reasons.
Address an introductory letter or statement to your students that tells them:
- Why you want them to use EPost.
- How you expect them to use it.
- What you hope they will get out of it.
You can communicate this by:
- Using the "Instructions" prompt (as you are creating the message board) to have the basic guidelines included in the EPost board itself.
- Posting a message to the board yourself.
- Putting instructions in the course syllabus or website.
- Including the statement in their first EPost assignment.
- It is a good idea to give your students an initial EPost assignment where they can try the tool out, set their preferences and post their first message.
- Consider using the initial assignment as a means of introducing students to you (and to each other) You might ask students why they are taking the course and what they hope to learn.
Tell your students what kinds of postings are appropriate. You might do this by explaining your evaluation criteria or by providing examples of good and poor postings (with commentary on what makes them good or poor).
- Encourage students to remember that their behavior on EPost is governed by the same rules of academic conduct as their behavior in class.
- Help promote sensitivity to diverse opinions and points of view – discourage "flaming" and other forms of inappropriate behavior.
Show students how to use the subject line as a "mini-abstract" of the body of the posting.
- This will greatly aid users as they skim and scan for specific kinds of postings.
- Remind students that if they change the subject they ought to start a new "subject line" rather than just hit reply.
Many instructors find that postings of approximately 250 words are long enough to express complex ideas or questions, and yet short enough not to overburden the board.
- Without a limit some students may be tempted to write long wordy passages that may unnecessarily increase reading (and download) time without adding substantially to discussion.
- On the other hand some students may not say enough to really promote discussion. You may want to require 3-4 sentence minimum.
Preferences help users (students and instructors) manage Epost. Settings include:
- Pseudonym selection.
- Email alerts of new postings (for example, users may be alerted when a new message is posted, or when a message is posted in response to the student's original posting)
Please email CIDR (cidr@u.washington.edu) or Catalyst (catalyst@u.washington.edu) with suggestions or examples from your course.
