  Online ForumsBrief Description:An Online forum is a web tool which allows discussions to be held online. It allows participants to post their own comments online which distinguishes it from one way communication tools such as email bulletins.
Description:Online forums, are sometimes referred to as message boards , web forums or chat rooms provide a space for online debate and discussion. The discussions on forums are usually organised is ‘threads’, that is responses to an initial message are displayed sequentially.
Used For:Discussions on online forums can fill a variety of roles. They can be hosted by decision making organisations or independent organisations. Decision makers might for example present the various options they are considering for a decision and solicit comments about people’s preferences. Alternatively an online forum can be used to discuss an issue before concrete options have been developed to inform thinking. Discussion forums can also be used for more general conversations or as a tool for community self-organising. Suitable participants:Online forums can be open to all who wish to take part or limited to specific groups, e.g. particular service users or interest groups. A key challenge can be to get enough activity on the forums. In general it can take some time before people begin to post messages as opposed to just reading what others have written. If the forum is under-used chances are that people will not spend much time on it. Solutions to this include identifying and encouraging active users to post, providing options for registering agreement with existing posts for those visitors who do not feel comfortable posting their own message and choosing topics which are likely to engage participants. Cost:The cost of running an online forum varies. However, it does not have to be high, so it can be a quick and easy way of gathering public feedback on an issue. However maintaining an online presence so that people are aware of the forum’s existence can have costs attached to it, as can staff time to set up and moderate the forum (see below).
Time Requirements:The time required varies. If a forum becomes successful it can be highly intensive to manage. Forums require moderation, that is someone to maintain control over what is posted on the site to ensure that nothing inappropriate or illegal is posted. Two options exist, pre moderation (messages are only included on the site after they have been cleared) or post moderation (messages appear instantly and are removed if site users report them as inappropriate). Pre-moderation can be frustrating for participants if their comments do not appear on the site for several days. When To Use / What It Can Deliver:You should use online forums when:
When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:You should not use online forums when:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Origin:eDemocracy Online Forums were developed relatively early in the history of the World Wide Web. Forums developed around political, social and entertainment related topics and have since then become a common eDemocracy tool. Case Studies:
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Restrictions In UseNone Further InformationInternational Centre of Excellence for Local eDemocracy Telephone: +44 (01543) 308101 Email: carol.pepper@icele.org Web: http://www.icele.org |
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