What is Web conferencing?
Web conferencing systems allow users to have online group discussions that use
the World Wide Web for their interface. Many of the web conferencing systems
around are an asynchronous form of communication and participants can read,
post, and reply to messages in a particular topic group. You may wish to think
of them as similar to listservs and newsgroups, but web systems hold more
promise for offering easier, better ways to follow "threads" of conversations.
Also available are chat rooms via the Web. These allow for synchronous forms of
communication to take place, since everything is done in real time.
There are a variety of web conferencing systems available today and that
number continues to grow daily. These systems can run the gamut from being
very, very basic (almost like bulletin boards) to very sophisticated. Not
surprisingly, the price can also run the gamut, from being freeware on up to
top of the line commercial systems that have a high price tag.
Understanding all the different options available and choosing a system for
your institution can be difficult. For more in-depth information on the topic
of web conferencing, refer to David Woolley's
Conferencing Software for the
Web. This site provides a comprehensive guide to many software packages
available today.
Web conferencing at NC
State
For several years now, NC State has offered a Web conferencing system called
NetForum to faculty and instructors for use in their classes.
Requesting a forum
If you are interested in using one of the above systems in your class,
Computing Services will set up a forum, Notes discussion, chat room (or
combination of the above) for you. Complete our online Web
conferencing request form and your forum, Notes discussion or chat room
will be setup in two to three working days. Once your system is set up, you
will be sent all information pertaining to your web system.
You may also request a forum via email at: webforum@ncsu.edu. Please include the following
information:
NetForum
NetForum is a relatively user friendly conferencing system to use, both to the
owner or administrator of the forum and to the users. NetForum works by
organizing postings into forums, topics, messages, and replies. Visit our
Using
NetForum page to learn more about NetForum or try out a demonstration
.
Questions about using NC States Web conferencing options should be directed to
webforum@ncsu.edu.
Must be faculty, staff, or instructor on campus.
e.g., Forum: PRT 562 -- Introduction to GIS
This can be a short paragraph describing the purpose of the forum. It is
optional.
Most forums allow anyone to add a topic since it is for discussion purposes. If
you prefer to limit who can add topics, you, as the "owner" of the forum, can be
the only one who adds topics.
This is usually limited to only your
students, and if you choose this method, the Center will need a list of
your students' Unity/Eos ids. When you restrict who can read/post, students
are prompted to enter their Unity/Eos id and password before proceeding.
Computing Services Education and Publications
Last revised 12 August 1998 shn