As others have already noted, the problem with the Web is that it is more like a publication than like an e-mail or conferencing system (though some web pages do allow callers to attach their own contributions to documents at a web site). Conferencing software is a more natural fit. At East Kootenay Community College, we want to run two English 100 sections (composition) in a conferencing/traditional classroom half- and-half split. The students will meet once a week in the lab to develop their skills with the tools, but will be expected to contribute to ongoing discussions through the week. It was interesting to see references to First Class conferencing software in light of our current plans. Anyone out there a rabid fan or a, well, the opposite? At the moment we're evaluating a product called Norton Textra Connect, which builds limited conferencing facilities into the DOS word processor. A version of Connect is also available for Word for Windows version 6.0. The advantage is a close link between the word processor and the conferencing system. The disadvantages seem to be two: each student must buy a separate licenced copy ($25 to $50 depending on the version), and the conferencing element is limited to the number of parallel conferences a student can be involved in. On the other hand, the institution bears no software cost. Any input in selecting the right conferencing package would be very helpful. Darrell Bethune East Kootenay Community College, B.C. [log in to unmask]