The way this going to work, and I say this hesitantly because the software is always
changing, the Coursera software's always changing.
But what our plan is, is to have one discussion forum that's associated
with this cohort, with each cohort of people that go through this course.
It should last for
an entire eight weeks, and it should be persistent over those eight weeks.
But then for the next cohort, that discussion is going to go away and
a new discussion thread will show up.
That way you'll be able to build a little bit of a sense of familiarity with
the other people that are in your cohort.
You'll be able to carry on extended conversations over the length of the class
but also the messages that you post won't persist after the cohort has gone through.
There's a degree in which they're ephemeral, and they won't persist.
And that if you are going through this course and
it's not the first time the course has been offered, you're not going to see
messages that are left over from people who were in a different cohort than you.
Everyone that should be posting, everything that you should see,
should be people that you're going through the process with.
However, they're more than likely remote.
So one discussion forum lasting all eight weeks.
It'll be hosted by Coursera and it should be on the left side, again,
unless the software has changed between the time I filmed this and
the time in which you're going through the course.
And it will be reset for each cohort.
Now how to use it?
It's kind of up to you and your class.
Our intention is that you would use it to get feedback on ideas,
maybe use it as a sounding board, a place where you can throw some idea out.
Maybe ask for reminders about different ways of doing things or
some pointers to other places where you can find items.
Maybe get some feedback between and before the official graded milestones,
but basically, it's going to be what you make it.
I imagine that each class will take on a little bit different character and
that it'll be a different thing in different places.
Be respectful of each other, that's the thing we always
worry about as instructors, but I also want to set an expectation for,
that everyone that's participating in this class should be treated with respect and
their ideas should be treated with respect as well.
If you don't like it, just don't respond to it and hopefully,
it'll be a mutually supportive environment.
I wanted to make sure that was clear and make sure that you knew about that and
we'll see how it progresses as the course goes on.
Thanks.
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