[FM Discuss] Instant Online Communication

[Tomi Toivio]

It is funny how little traffic there has actually been in Moodle during the
translation course. I really think that the technical writing course has to
have a lot more traffic and needs something more. Basically it is a
booksprint with only two "live" days and a couple of months of online
writing in between.

2010/3/24 Lachlan Musicman <datakid at gmail.com>

> Hola,
>
> I'm teaching translation in Melbourne using Blackboard - it's ok, but
> no real time chat.
>
> I've used eGroupware, tracs, wikis, redmine, irc, gchat, email, email
> lists and blogs as group communication methods in the past. The
> reality is, each has advantages and disadvantages and they can't
> really be differentiated. Some work, some don't. Inevitably, the best
> bet is always choose one (or two) and use it/them as best you can -
> exploit it's strengths, minimise it's weaknesses. Making sure that
> people use the one you choose effectively is a much better approach.
>
> good luck
>
> L.
>
> On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 09:25, Janet Swisher <jmswisher at gmail.com> wrote:
> > For FLOSS Manuals projects, I have only ever used the IRC channel.
> > However, for my daily work I often use 1-to-1 instant messaging
> > (Gtalk, AIM, etc.). That works for me because I usually know exactly
> > who I need to ask questions of, and nobody else needs to be part of
> > the conversation. For a class, I think IRC or some other group chat
> > would be better so that more people can watch the discussion, even if
> > they're not participating.
> >
> > The benefit of a discussion board system is that even people who
> > weren't online at the time of the discussion can search and read it,
> > and therefore benefit from it. In contrast, you can save IRC logs, but
> > they are often tedious to read and difficult to understand if you
> > weren't present at the time. So, there is a trade-off between the
> > real-time nature of chat, and the persistence of discussion boards.
> >
> > --Janet
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 10:21 AM, Tomi Toivio <tomi at flossmanuals.net>
> wrote:
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> I would like to make a quick question about: What kind of instant online
> >> communication technologies have you been using for FLOSS Manuals
> >> collaboration? Is it only our beloved IRC channel, or have you been
> using
> >> something else?
> >>
> >> We have been using Moodle for the university course that we have going
> on
> >> currently. This one was about translation, I am a bit worried we need
> >> something else as well when we start the technical writing course. There
> >> just haven't been so many conversations and questions arising from the
> >> translation process, but technical writing should require a lot more
> >> conversation. And of course Moodle is more like a discussion forum
> rather
> >> than a real instant messaging discussion.
> >>
> >> Since we are writing manuals and technology subjects are often easier to
> >> write down rather than explain orally, I would prefer just IRC. Or email
> for
> >> longer explanations.
> >>
> >> I just noticed again today how important it is to have a non-formal and
> >> chatty online conversation when you are working on an online
> collaborative
> >> project like this.
> >>
> >> We have to set up a Finnish speaking IRC channel for FLOSS Manuals at
> some
> >> stage. But should we have something like a discussion board as well?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Best Regards
> >> Tomi Toivio
> >> Open Source Coordinator
> >> http://fi.flossmanuals.net/
> >> tomi at flossmanuals.net
> >> +358445488856
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
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> >
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-- 
Best Regards
Tomi Toivio
Open Source Coordinator
http://fi.flossmanuals.net/
tomi at flossmanuals.net
+358445488856
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