DESIEN-list - Subscriber Response

This invitation is from Nora Carrol, president, FirstForward.com and associate professor of business/management, University of Maryland University College:

I'm developing another article for Distance Learning Magazine, which will focus on positive and negative experiences using online discussions to support course instructional and learning objectives. Working title is "Online discussions: springboards or gangplanks?". If you are currently using online discussions/conferences, and would like to provide input, please reply by 12/1. Explain if these online discussions are used within a purely online learning environment, to enhance a classroom-based course, what the topics are, and whether discussions are asynchronous or synchronous (real time). Also indicate whether you want be identified or remain anonymous. Many thanks!