Looks at the use of online discussion forums in professional environments and in particular at the development and use of the a Special Needs Coordinators (SENCo) Forum in the U.K. Discusses the use of the forum as an information exchange, the forum as a "virtual respite" and using the forum to create a sense of community. That said, the study accurately captures the a weakness of many discussion groups designed for education: "on closer inspection this use was limited. Much of the generated discussion noticeably emanated from a hard core of participants." Draws an unduly pessimistic conclusion: "the Internet should really only be seen as extending preexisting identities and institutions," one that is inevitable given the structure and design of the SENCo Forum. Forums should reach beyond traditional institutions and include participation from people with varied and diverse backgrounds.
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