Shy people are not argued down, rhetorical flourishes can't be used, and non-English students cope better with the language. Later there is a coming-out session at the university where the students show their real identities, often to surprise and applause. The debate is also a permanent and expandable record useful for future students. The best part is that the students are not learning just what I tell them, but learning to think and make choices based on good information. An individual assignment is to investigate and give an assessment of a domestic and international securities regulator's Web site, and present the results to a discussion forum.
Freeman admits to having the usual failures of a pioneer.
There is less staff administrative work because the Web is used for announcements, such as where to lodge assignments, errors in a text, changes to deadlines, and guides to marking. Staff have to discourage students from calling by phone and private e-mail, instead of logging on to the site. But there is still a huge workload in the Internet-posted queries. Some students at other universities became irate when Freeman failed to respond to their queries. Students expect staff to respond seven days a week, and mark faster.