The document provides instructions for using an online discussion tool called the Ashridge Dialogue, including how to log in, get started by watching an intro video and reviewing terms, join discussions, post and reply to comments, navigate discussions through personal tools like flagged comments and tags, log out, and get help.

1. The Ashridge Dialogue Some tips about using the tool

2. Logging in Log in using your user name (your email address) and the unique password you were sent. Trouble logging in? Click here

3. Getting started Watch the welcome video

4. Find out more about the project, review the terms and conditions of taking part here Edit your profile by clicking here

5. Getting started Join the discussion by clicking here

6. Review the context for the discussion Choose a discussion topic that interests you

7. Click on “Take me to the discussion”

8. Posting a comment Click on “Post a comment” 1. Give your comment a relevant title here 2. Add in more detail here 4. Click “Post” 3. Choose a few words (tags) that will help people find your comment according to content, click add

9. You can also reply directly to another person’s comment. Instead of hitting “Post comment” you can click “Reply” on the bottom right hand corner under someone else’s comment. This is how the discussion builds up. Click ‘Reply’

10. Getting around the discussion These are your personal navigation tools. They will organise the information that the tool shows you according to what you’ve done in here before. You can see all of your own comments by clicking “My comments” You can see all the unread comments that have been added since you last came in. The unread comments will show this yellow star next to them. To open up all unread comments (and clear the yellow stars) click this link.

11. Getting around the discussion Flags are a way to “pin” interesting conversations. To flag a comment, click on the little grey flag to the left hand side of the title of the post you are interested in. It will turn orange. The tool will let you find these comments easily, and show you when someone replies to your flagged comments. Only you see your flagged comments.

12. Getting around the discussion The tags are a collective view of what is going on in the discussion. Everyone adds tags to their comments. These collect in the tagcloud. The bigger the word in the tagcloud, the more people have added it to their comments, so we can build up a picture of what is important to the community through what they tag. When you click on a tag in the tagcloud, it will show you all the comments that have been linked to that word. Everyone contributes to the tagcloud through tagging their comments. It is important to ensure that you tag your comments according to content so that if someone is interested in one of the tagged subjects, they can find your comment

13. Leaving the discussion When you want to leave the discussion, log out by clicking Logout here. Remember to check back often to see how the discussion has developed.

14. Getting help/finding out more If you would like help with the tool please email support@achordus.com If you would like to find out more about the Achordus tool or process, please visit our website at www.achordus.comor email Erica Packington, Director of Consulting at epackington@achordus.com If you would like to find out more about using Achordus to support a large online conversation in your organisation, please contact Alexandra.Stubbings@ashridge.org.uk