Additions:
As an example, see my [[http://131.202.10.204/3511forum/ original forum]] for one of my courses and the wiki-based [[http://gmbowen.educ.unb.ca/wikitxt/wakka.php?wakka=WikkaForum clone of the forum]] using the forum tools. Almost identical functionality, and the wiki one was **considerably** faster and easier to set up. Additionally, I can add comments and links FAR more easily on individual forum pages in the clone than I ever could in the real forum software. Once I can get a private message system completed (see [[http://gmbowen.educ.unb.ca/wiki/wakka.php?wakka=Mailbox here]]) then I'll use this forum approach for courses instead of an actual forum since I'll have all the needed functionality and more in one spot...and that's even more true when we get simple table formatting (hint hint), etc. (for those of you that notice that the original forum had "anonymous" contributions, it will be **substantially** easier to change the code in ""{{wikkaforum}}"" to accomplish that so that names are only shown to admin than it was in the code for ""PunBB"")
Deletions:
With functionality similar to "regular" bulletin boards (such as ""PunBB""), this forum tool can use simple wiki mark-up is **considerably** faster and easier to set up....and "empowers" regular wiki users to set up structured discussions in a manner not normally possible (unless you have access to a server, etc). Additionally, you can add comments and links FAR more easily on the main and on individual forum pages in the clone than one can in the real forum software (because you can use wiki markup). Combined with the wiki mail tool I wrote (WikkaMail) I use this forum approach for my courses instead of real bulletin board software since I have all the needed functionality and more in one spot. [Currently this forum tool uses wiki markup for the "front end" of the bulletin board. In current development is an action (wikkabb.php) which will allow bulletin board management & a look quite similar to traditional bulletin boards but through the wiki (and this wikkaforum tool). There are two advantages this will offer over traditional bb's (from a "community" perspective AND from a teaching/learning perspective in classroom use). Firstly, individual forums discussions can be shared across communities and forums. This is a considerable departure from regular BB's where one is either entirely in one community or not....whereas this tool will permit crossing-over between different communities/classes. Secondly (and consistent with what was written earlier), it allows these inter-linked bulletin boards to be generated by users for their own (community) purposes....not something usually possible with bulletin boards. Development on this tool should conclude in the next few weeks, it will be field tested, and then it will be released here.]
