User talk:Hillgentleman/modes of communications

Modes of Communications

My issue with this system is that you are purposely separating experts, students and the public. It seems to create an elitist situation, and have areas where the public are not welcome. Yes, I do see the advantages of having organised structures and methods of contacting people who know. However, how do we define who is an 'expert', and does an 11 year old schoolboy count as a student? Who would be permitted to post seminars or letters, what distinguishes these people? These are issues that would need to be resolved before this was implemented. Having said that, I do like the idea - there is a gap between informal discussion and formal 'published' works (there's that word again), and this is a step to bridging that gap. Methinks Wikiversity is heading in very good directions now.

Taking one of your ideas, would it not be a good idea simply to have Question&Answer sessions? A topic (or lesson) would have a page for asking questions to anybody who could answer them (experts). That is very much like a University (asking your tutors), but really grasps the concept of everybody working together. Wikiversity is an active learning environment, and that gives the opportunity to those who know (who have learned) to teach other people. Personally, I'd find that a very useful environment to ask someone how to do something specific in PHP, or how would I go about solving some particularly difficult algreba. Xenon 14:58, 20 October 2006 (UTC)