Q - "I would like to set up a sort of 'chat room' in which my students can discuss what they have read with each other on their own time.  I do not want it to be a set time but rather one student can make a statement or I can propose a topic for discussion, then they can log on, read what others have said and respond in English or the target language. Is this possible?  How would I go about getting it set up if I should decide to do it?"

• NetForum
• Chat Rooms
• NetMeeting

A - Go to this page: http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/cc/edu/talks/webconf.html 

From time to time we as a department, or language sections, discuss items in our various meetings that cannot possibly be resolved and discussed in the time allotted. To help facilitate those discussions I have requested and have been granted a NetForum for the department. A NetForum is like an enhanced listserv, because it tracks everyone's input and responses so that we don't have to. One person creates a topic and then others add to the topic. Everyone's comments are maintained and are available for review. See the following link for additional information:

http://www.ncsu.edu/it/edu/webconferencing/netforum.html

Each of you should be able to create topics and add to the discussion. The URL for our NetForum is:

http://courses.forum.ncsu.edu/cgi-bin/netforum/flltopics/a/1

Click on the help button on that page if you need help.