The typical components for class support (as opposed to direct
instruction or "courseware", and as opposed to analytic or production
tools) are a focused broadcast mechanism (such as a mailing list), a
restricted-access archive and discussion forum (a Discuss meeting or a
controlled-access Web document connected to one), an index and
repository for class materials (typically central locker space,
interlinked Web documents, or sometimes fancier stuff), and a
managed-queue, limited-respondent help system (such as our OLTA).
Sometimes there's also an "who's out there"-type mutual help system
(Zephyr, talk, and IRC are common vehicles) and a concealed-identity
forum for suggestions or discussions (such as the one Hal uses in his
Ethics subject.
An integrated scheme for doing all these typical things that was capable
of including multimedia material (in the http or MIME sense) in all
channels and forums would be a very interesting leap forward for us,
very consistent with our traditional strengths and leadership and
readily useful to others as well.