I have created these on-line discussion groups to advance five specific goals. You will, I think, make better use of the discussion groups if you participate with these goals in mind. They are spelled out below.
Many educators believe that people learn best when they are active, rather than passive.
Talking about issues and using new knowledge seems to solidify learning. Large law school classrooms provide few occasions for active work on the part of students. Only a few students can speak in any given class discussion or participate in simulated lawyering activities. The on-line discussion groups are designed to extend class discussions and simulated lawyering activities so that more students can participate and experience the benefits of active learning. This is not, of course, a hard and fast rule, but it is an observable pattern.