11. A method implemented on a computing device having a processor for determining a learner's final grade in an academic course, comprising: using the computing device having the processor to perform the following: selecting a type of natural interaction forum to assess a learner's knowledge of subject matter; attaching a rubric to the selected natural interaction forum, the rubric being used as a benchmark for assessing the learner's knowledge; assigning to the learner a natural interaction assignment that uses the selected natural interaction forum; assessing the learner's knowledge based on the learner's posts in the selected natural interaction forum using a participation metric that measures both statistically and visually a participation of the learner in the natural interactions forum to generate assessment results for the learner; computing a single score from the assessment results corresponding to the learner's grade on the natural interaction assignment; integrating the learner's grade on the natural interaction assignment into a formal gradebook; and producing a final grade for the learner based at least on the learner's grade on the natural interaction assignment.
11. A method implemented on a computing device having a processor for determining a learner's final grade in an academic course, comprising: using the computing device having the processor to perform the following: selecting a type of natural interaction forum to assess a learner's knowledge of subject matter; attaching a rubric to the selected natural interaction forum, the rubric being used as a benchmark for assessing the learner's knowledge; assigning to the learner a natural interaction assignment that uses the selected natural interaction forum; assessing the learner's knowledge based on the learner's posts in the selected natural interaction forum using a participation metric that measures both statistically and visually a participation of the learner in the natural interactions forum to generate assessment results for the learner; computing a single score from the assessment results corresponding to the learner's grade on the natural interaction assignment; integrating the learner's grade on the natural interaction assignment into a formal gradebook; and producing a final grade for the learner based at least on the learner's grade on the natural interaction assignment. 12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: provisioning the selected natural interaction forum by using a security model to allow participation in the selected natural interaction forum only by those learners who are enrolled in the academic course and who have been given the natural interaction assignment; and creating a list of learners in the academic course to assess from participants in the selected natural interaction forum.