What is the DL Archive?

This site is dedicated to preserving and creating access to messages sent to the Aston University English Academic Subject Group discussion list (DL) between 1997 and 2006. The primary aim is to turn the Aston MSc community's discourse history into a useful, interactive tool that enhances situated learning and encourages greater use of public, colaborative study via the discussion list.

Take a Guided Tour

For a quick overview of the site and instructions on how to navigate around it, check out the Frequently Asked Questions page.

For a more in-depth experience, a new "Guided Tour" page consisting of reflective tasks has been designed to help you interact with our community's discourse history in practical ways. The tasks guide you quickly and interactively to archived content relevant to your needs. For example, if you're just getting started with the FND, you'll find tasks to help you develop your study skills, get help with portfolio tasks, and decide your course pathway. If you're stuck for an assignment topic, there are tasks that help generate inspiration and ideas. Finally, other tasks showcase how the discussions archived in this site can provide background and context for further exploration on the discussion list.

Use the DL Archive to...

Get up to speed quickly:

If you are new to the MSc program, discussions in the foundation module section make good reading. Topics include general advice, a review of needed study skills, FND portfolio tasks, and thoughts on deciding your course pathway.

Check out potential modules:

Having trouble deciding your course pathway, or which module to do next? Access module-specific discussions via the archive categories menu at the top and on the right to get a CP perspective on relevant module-specific topics and issues.

Get ideas for assignments:

Stuck for something to do? Have a general topic idea that needs focusing? Do a search of this site. Reading what others have done may stimulate new ideas of your own. Then post your thoughts to the DL to get more peer feedback.

Establish context for current DL discussions:

Often current discussion topics on the DL have been brought up before. Familiarizing yourself with past instances of a topic as well as revisiting questions raised previously can provide a strong foundation that deepens inquiry. By linking current topics with similar ones from the past, discussions need not start from ground zero each time.

Access original DL data:

For those interested in CMC (computer mediated communication) or researching DL interaction in particular, instructions for obtaining messages in a raw, unedited state can be found here. Discussions are organized in monthly blocks contained as .doc or zipped PDF files. A link to the Raw DL Data page can also be accessed via the site map and the DL Archive Support links on the right.