I think we can learn a lot from the experience of others and this paper is an example of that. Catherine Doherty give an insight into her own experience using forums as a way of communicating with students.

Doherty's paper is a refreshingly honest account which shows that the experience of the teacher impacts on the overall effectiveness of forums as a discussion tool. This is an easy to read article and highlights the some of the struggles related to the use of online environments.