Online Discussion Groups


Online discussion groups dedicated to training and development topics have grown over the past year. As a subscriber, you can share information and knowledge with training professionals from all over the world.

Many of these electronic discussion groups are offered for free by e-mail subscription services such as Yahoo! Groups (formerly known as eGroups). Yahoo! Groups gets its revenue from banner ads.

This service lets you subscribe to several groups at a single location. You can read and post messages as well as view message archives and files submitted by subscribers. Since the interface is the same, it's easy to set up and change your subscription options. You can choose to receive individual messages, a daily digest of full-text messages, or view messages on the Web site.

Most groups are unmoderated, which allows information to flow freely and relies upon the subscribers to enforce the rules. Worried about getting spam? The service protects its subscribers with a strict anti-spam policy.

I subscribed to and visited four Yahoo! Groups that focus on topics related to training and development. Here's my review of each one.

Trdev

Trdev was founded on 10/10/2000 when the TRDEV-L list serve became defunct. This group describes itself simply as a discussion of training and development issues. At last count, the group had 884 subscribers.

Recent discussion topics include:

  • Training ROI
  • E-learning costs and methods
  • Training techniques and activities

    Empty file folders are waiting for subscribers to contribute articles, job descriptions, job hunting resources and training job aids.

    HRNET

    Founded on 10/1/99, HRNET describes itself as "an international list server dedicated to the exchange of ideas between Human Resource Professionals." With 1005 subscribers, this discussion board covers topics related to HR policies and procedures, requests for advice and inquiries about opinions of specific HR products.

    As with any discussion group, disagreements are not uncommon. During my last visit, I noticed a thread concerning improper behavior on the list. Apparently, a subscriber flamed another and a flurry of messages were posted in protest. The moderator stepped in to warn the subscribers about being 'off topic'.

    HRNET file folders contain forms, samples, job openings and job aids contributed by subscribers. There are also numerous links to HR and training Web sites.

    EPSS

    EPSS stands for Electronic Performance Support System. This group describes EPSS as "software that integrates knowledge, task structuring support, data, tools and communications and enables people to learn while doing complex tasks." The purpose of the group is to provide a forum for sharing information about EPSS.

    The copyright of the article Online Discussion Groups in Training & Development is owned by Audrey Choden. Permission to republish Online Discussion Groups in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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