Web Tool #2
Discussion Forums
My partner and I selected groups.google.com to explore.  After a little trial and error we found this to be a simple tool to use.  In addition to responding to some sort of written prompt, the leader can attach a  link,  photo, file, etc.  as a take-off point for discussion.  This tool can encourage discussion because individuals can see what others have already written and can respond to each other as well as to the prompt itself.  This tool can be used from any computer as long as individuals have connected to this website.  Difficulties are how spread-out spacially some of the responses get.  They can be compressed to just show the first line of each response.  Groups can be limited to select invited individuals, or can be open to the internet.  I can see this tool being used for students to respond to thematic questions about stories or novels, writing different predictions to future events in literature, looking at a picture that represents a new topic of study such as Oregon Trail to give students a chance to write down what they already know or think.