The "threaded message board" built into K-State Online offers you and me the ability to post comments and carry on discussions in asynchronous (not at the same time) mode.  The term thread in the threaded message board means a topic or subject.  Each new topic can have its own thread.  Then all replies and discussion about that thread or topic stay together and do not get mixed up with another discussion.  This is similar to a listserv, but instead of every message sent coming to your e-mail in-box, messages get posted to a board and organized so everyone can read and reply to the various threads.

You are expected to access the class Message Board several times a week.  A major (!) part of your grade in this course is based on your regular participation in class discussion via the Message Board.  

It's simple to use!

1.  Go to the World Wide Web to this address:   http://online.ksu.edu.  Log on.
2.  Go to the site for our course.  On the navigation bar there (to the left of the screen), click on the link labeled Message Board.
3.  You are ready to read and post messages to the threaded message board.

  When you enter our course's message board for the first time, you will see a short tutorial about how to use the threaded message board.  If you need to access that help again just choose the Help button from the menu of choices in the upper right-hand corner of the message board.  This is also the location for choosing Start New Thread and Reply.  These two options let you begin a new discussion topic or reply to an existing one.

  I have also provided some guidelines and tips on using the message board.  Be sure to read these carefully and take them to heart.   They tell you

• what sorts of contributions to the discussion there are eligible to earn credit, and which are not.
• how a couple of special habits can help make the overall discussion much easier for everyone to follow, and to navigate around in.

Especially important are the answers to Q-1 and Q-6.

If you need assistance with the Threaded Message Board, 

• consult the Help accessible through the question-mark icon in the upper left-hand corner of any message screen, or
• contact the K-State Online Help Desk at help@online.ksu.edu or (785) 532-7722 or 1-800-865-6143.