OnLine Surveys Online surveys are an exciting new tool facilitated by the Internet. These can be used for polling faculty on committee matters, soliciting community input, gathering information from students, and even for formal research. Current Internet tools can make it possible for committees to discuss and conduct business, even when all members cannot meet in the same place or even at the same time. All participants must be available at the same time but not necessarily in the same place. The conversation is typed on the members' PC keyboard and appears instantly on the monitors of each participant.
Participants master the technique quickly and the technology becomes almost invisible.
An alternative to synchronous online chat is the threaded discussion board. The discussion begins when a member posts a topic and other members respond. All entries related to the original topic are automatically threaded together so the topical discussion can be easily followed, no matter when entries are made. It is even possible to conduct discussions on different topics, or side discussions, as the bulletin board will keep them organized and meaningful.