Townhall (Web address: townhall.gmu.edu) is GMU's Web-based discussion/meeting place, which uses Web Crossing ® software. The program resides on a computer/server at George Mason. Since it is Web-based, faculty and students do not have to buy any software. Users must have regular access to a Web browser, like Netscape or Internet Explorer, to access Townhall. Faculty and students can use Townhall to hold asynchronous class discussions and synchronous chat sessions, post course material - syllabi, assignments, hyperlinks to on-line readings and other Web material. No knowledge of HTML is required to post messages and course material on Townhall.  Indiviidual courses have their own folder, which can contain subfolders, discussions and messages, according to the host/faculty needs.  Dscussions and/or posted material is contained within the specifically named folders, created by the host/faculty.  The moderator (faculty member) can restrict access to only to her or his students or open it up to a broader discussion group. 

• Asynchronous discussion forums. The meetings/discussion are organized into thematic folders. The moderator/host decides whether or not folders can contain subfolders or discussions, or subfolders and discussions. Students and faculty log on at their convenience (or within a pre-determined time) and join the discussion. Participants don't log on at the same time. The discussions are archived for continuing use or future reference.
• Synchronous chat rooms. The synchronous discussions require faculty and students log on at a pre-determined "real time" to type in messages to each other This type of discussion is generally not archived. When participants log off the discussion disappears. (Chat discussions require a JAVA-enabled browser).
• Hyperext-ready - You can create or copy/paste hypertext documents which, when clicked, will take the user to other sites on the Web.
• Post course information, such as syllabi , assignments, test answers, lecture notes, links to hypertext version of syllabus and links to other Web readings, sites.
• Restricted access - The moderator/faculty host can restrict access to class members only. Individual folders can be set up to provide open or restricted access, within the parent class folder. For example, you may want to subdivide your class into small groups. You could provide a folder for each group to discuss class projects. You could also set up small chat rooms within individual folders. Small student groups could discuss their project real time, from wherever they have access to a Web browser.
• Keyword search - This function allows the faculty and students to search for key terms and concepts in a class discussion. Allows faculty to check participation by typing in student's name.
• Cut and paste capability. Text and hypertext documents can be composed in a wordprocessor or wordpad can be copied and pasted into the Townhall message "window." To cut and past hypertext documents, be sure you are copying the version with the html tags showing.
• Formatting commands - The software provides has some basic formatting commands for creating bold, italicized, indented, and centered text.
• The material is archived on the server and does not reside in faculty or student e-mail accounts or mason directories.

• Townhall promotes participation and extends class discussion beyond the classroom walls, for small classes and large lecture classes. The class Townhall meeting place could include folders for use by small student groups. Groups could discuss aspects of the same issue or different issues. Faculty may choose not have to respond to individual messages in all discussions, but make general comments about the discussion to affirm good points, clear up misconceptions, etc. Grading participation will get better results.)
• Townhall can provide a central meeting place where students can find course material (syllabi, lecture notes, bibliographic information, links to relevant Web sites, a whole class discussion forum and small group forums.
• Townhall allows more students to have a voice in class discussions because of the time shift. Students who, for a variety of reasons, might not speak up in class, may feel more free to do so in this less confrontational environment. (Some general guidelines about "netiquette" may be necessary. Students can get carried away in this paradoxical intimacy/distance environment.)
• Students get practice in writing. They have the opportunity to write about what they are learning and share ideas with other students. This written discussion can reinforce what they are learning.
• Students post written documents for faculty and peer critique, for example:

• Direct students to the appropriate written or web-based resources. See these Townhall instructions for general use. Townhall also has a basic tutorial on-line.
• Give students some hands-on practice before they plunge into a class discussion, if they are new to the technology.
• Establish guidelines for etiquette. Discourage "flaming," encourage openness to others' views, model appropriate responses. The "intimacy/distance" paradox of e-mail communications can help break down boundaries and can elicit more frank and sometimes "out of bounds" comments - so "netiquette" rules and accountability need to be established.
• Grade participation and assignments requiring Townhall. Students will most likely not participate at an acceptable level without some clearly defined expectations.
• Refer students to appropriate resources - Set clear guidelines for the topics of the discussion. Perhaps frame the discussion with questions you devise as a starting point, or engage students in coming up with a list of discussion questions. Are you looking at the students' contributions as "oral" or "written" communications. Are you expecting spontaneous contributions in which writing style or typical electronic communication errors will be overlooked, or should their submissions be edited first before posting?
• Set some guidelines for what you expect from each student - for example, how many discussion contributions will be the minimum required for the student to receive either credit for class participation or credit for the assignment? Do you want students to not only post their text, but also respond to a certain number of other responses or responses from different perspectives? Will there be an individual or group written assignment or an HTML document produced by students?
• Set a time frame for the discussion - It may be unrealistic to expect students to all log on within a narrow time frame.
• Give students plenty of advance notice. Unlike e-mail, students have to go those extra steps to access the Townhall meeting place. Sending an e-mail or in-class reminder of an upcoming discussion will help participation.