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From Terry Anderson
Univ. of Calgary
Intro, Pt. 1                The Bangkok Project
                            October 3, 1992
 
The Bangkok Project is a world-wide, distributed, electronic symposium
focused on issues of importance to distance educators. The project
coincides with the XVI World Conference of the International
Association for Distance Education (ICDE), which will be held in
Bangkok, Thailand from Nov. 5 - Nov. 13, 1992. The Project is the first
electronic "conversation" designed to be distributed across all
the major electronic forums and networks which distance educators 
frequent.
 
The project is designed so that both delegates to the Congress and
others who are interested in distance education, but who cannot
attend the Congress, will be able to participate.
Participants can access the project discussions via
a variety of local, national and international networks.
 
The Bangkok Project will consist of six topic/discussions (see
attached list), each lasting from 2-6 weeks. Each
discussion will open with a presentation of the major issues
by an internationally known "First Speaker."  A volunteer "host"
will provide moderator functions for each topic as needed.
 
The symposium will be distributed, world wide, on  nearly 30 stand-
alone systems, discussion lists and networks. Many of these groups are 
special
interest or professional groups who are interested in one or more of 
the
Bangkok project topics. Other groups are located on computer systems at
Universities, commercial information utilities or bulletin board 
distribution
networks.  Each list has a volunteer porter who will filter comments, 
both from
and to the project, to insure high quality of discussion by eliminating
unnecessary comments and inappropriate traffic.
 
Discussions related to the project can happen at two levels.  Local
issues and comments relevant to a smaller subset of readers can
remain on the local and specialized discussion lists. Items of a
more general nature can be transmitted back to the main distribution
network located at the University of Calgary. These comments will
then automatically be ported to the First Speaker and the other 30
distribution lists for comment or further discussion.
 
The success of the project depends upon quality discussion, skillful
porters, and efficient electronic distribution networks. The project
will be one of the first global conversations, shared by thousands
of interested distance education students, scholars, and
practitioners.
 
There is no cost for participation, other then that for normal
access to any of the distribution networks or systems. There is no
formal registration process, other then to join one of the 40
groups which will be carrying the discussions.



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