www.asia-commons.net was an active and interactive web space created in Drupal which had several features making it an easy tool for participants to build up their alliances, share notes, blog, add images, share podcasts and follow up on collaborative ideas in a discussion list. The website development was done in Nepal with virtual consultation between India and Canada happening all the time to conceptualise the online community work space for the conference.
The Participants discussion list enabled a number of delegates to get a feel of what they were going to experience in the face-to-face meetings. Moderated initially for three weeks prior to the conference, the forum triggered a few questions and prodded the participants to respond. What was most overwhelming was the kind of bonding that it created and the free flow of information and knowledge that built up into an active online discussion list. It is also the space that continues to be used by the participants. Keeping in line with the policy of inclusiveness, the list is open for newcomers to join in, and become part of the Asia Commons community.
The discussion list also served to call for ‘speed sharers’
