Using the NICENET forum feature for online discussion Communicating on the Internet
STUDENT DIRECTIONS
Updated: February 2007

Teacher Resources on OnLine Discussion:

• Class Set Up Cheat Sheet
• http://www.dartmouth.edu/~webteach/articles/discussion.html
  

HANDOUTS:

• Discussion Board Netiquette
  
• Policies for Using an Internet Discussion Board
• Sample Student Class Registration (PDF FORMAT)

Open an Internet browser and go to: http://www.nicenet.org/

Join a class When the next screen pops up, you will need the key which will be provided.

Choose and create a user name and password Your user name and password are CONFIDENTIAL  Be sure to write it down! Please fill in all information - including an email address if you have one. An email address is requested but not required. If you provide an emaill address, you will be able to receive ICA (Internet Classroom Assistant) messages from your instructor and others students in the class. Nicenet will use your email address to send you verification of registration and information about new functions of the ICA. Nicenet will not sell or make your address available to anyone.

If you provided an email address, your registration information will be emailed to you for your records. This comes in handy if you forget your login and password.

Once you finish the registration process, you can login.

Using the CONFERENCING SECTION

What is the difference between "post" and "reply"? In NiceNet, unless you have the authority - granted by the class administrator - to create a new topic, posting and replying to an existing topic, have basically the same function. This helps to keep everyone on topic! If you are "replying", your post is a direct response to a message that has already been posted. Replies assume the same SUBJECT line as the original post. Although posts stay on topic, they allow you to put in a different SUBJECT line.

RETURN