Tools and skills for member participation
Most of CPsquare's activities happen at a distance, although many CPsquare members make an effort to spend time together face-to-face. Here are some of the tools and skills that are involved. There's always smore to learn about collaborating at a distance. It's part of our practice. But here are a few things that you need to get going.
Recommended
tool | How it's used |
| We use email for registration and organizational purposes. We often have back-channel conversations via email. You can follow a discussion by email or be alerted to activity in a topic that specifically interests you. Email is key if you are responding to calls for participation or stepping forward to encourage others to participate in some way. Other members have access to your email address but as a whole we try to limit email volume. | |
| Current Web browser | We have a rather large Web Crossing discussion space that requires a current web browser, but no additional plug-ins. |
| Chat | We have occasional meetings in a Web Crossing chat room that uses a Java Applet. Some fiewalls block the port that this Java Applet uses, so occasionally people must use the HTML version of the chat room, which is tolerable but not as convenient. The chat transcript is normally posted in the relevant discussion space. |
| Instant Message | Although the website itself has a "Quick Message" facility, CPsquare members communicate via Instant Message for informal contact, note-taking during meetings, and sending each other reminders. |
| Telephone | Call others, receive phone calls, and participate in telephone conferences, usually involving a pohne call to the US. Many CPsquare members use Skype and other VOIP programs for this purpose and to call each other. All CPsquare telephone conferences are recorded and are made available for members to listen to after wards. |
| MP3 software | You need software and hardware to listen to MP3 files. |
Although we try to avoid technologies that require fast internet connections, CPsquare does rely on Internet connectivity and so fast connections are very helpful.