Lit Circles

I felt like... When I was reading this article (Wiki Lit. Circles--- by E. Edmonson) and thinking about an online literature circle, I kept thinking "discussion board" in the back on my head.  I don't think that's engaging, and that's what we're trying to accomplish, right?  Turning your desks in a circle, in class, and being able to actively engage one another makes a huge difference!  The responses are immediate and you can agree, disagree, and conversate face-to-face (even non verbals help in a setting like this).  I just feel like you take so much more away from a 'live' literature circle than a virtual one.  Reading this, you can't tell my tone of voice, my inflection, my pauses for thought... I think if a teacher is trying to find ways to incorporate different mediums into their curriculum, there are much more effective places to put it (prime example would be some of the tools we've shared in class, and their different uses).  Even something as simple as a student can't verbally complete a thought (maybe they don't have the right word, but they have the right idea) and another student or teacher can jump in and help... that's another example of immediate feedback- that's valuable, it shows support.