Forum Organization
Hey, Deborah!
I'm finally getting a sense of how this is broken up..... looking at the NingCreators website - and a sense of just how much is going to be offered on this website!
This is going to be fantastic, and they are going to create GROUPS probably by Tuesday they say!
So - then, you can break up forums according to each group - facilitators, gatherers....... etc.
In the meantime, may I suggest a simplification of the category names?
You currently have questions for the categories..... maybe it would be better to rethink in broad terms...........
for instance, if you didn't have groups on the way, I would think of having categories like this:
General Discussion
Gatherings
Facilitating
Workshops
Techniques and Materials
Personal Experiences
T.D. Publicity
Soulcards
Ning Website Usage
Some of these questions can be grouped under broad head categories such as these, and then it makes it easier to scan the type of category you would like to post under when you create a "new discussion"
Some of these questions, too - such as "connect with people from the gathering" - or "connect with people who were in a workshop with you" - will happen soon, just by use of the search functions they are creating.......
but if you want to do it right away, see my example below.... by rephrasing the forum discussion from "connect with" - which is passive, I've made it a direct question, which creates more interaction....
this is a perfect time to use to draw and re-draw this website, so that the flow will be clear and concise........
the clearer and more concise it is in the beginning, the easier and faster it will grow. :)
Don't worry about deleting any questions or things you have started already, either..... I don't think we've really put up much of value as of yet...... so it's still a perfect time to rearrange/delete/create new items........
Just be sure the category titles are as short as possible......... if you can get the jist of it in one word - all the better......... it just makes it that much easier to scan them.....
and THEN - break down the categories into questions from there.......
So, as a further example, using the categories from above, and the questions we currently have on the forum....... they could be arranged (and/or re-written to be more interactive) like:
General Discussion
Gatherings
Who has been to any of the gatherings? Say hello here!
Facilitating
Workshops
Have you been to a T.D. workshop? Which one(s) and when?
Techniques and Materials
How much paint is good to use each time?
Personal Experiences
How have you found success in continuing to DO Touch Drawing?
Have you had any challenges in the experience of T.D?
What are some of your amazing stories and experiences?
T.D. Publicity
Soulcards
Ning Website Usage
What would you like to see in an online T.D. community?
How do I know what new members have joined?
How do you search for people who live in certain areas?
This is all an example of how I think this could be organized to be a little clearer. If you can think of any more general categories - then cool - but of course, this comes down to a judgment call on what to combine, and what to separate for the easiest, and quickest way to find something you are looking for..........
What do you think, Deborah? What are your thoughts on this way/idea?
I'm finally getting a sense of how this is broken up..... looking at the NingCreators website - and a sense of just how much is going to be offered on this website!
This is going to be fantastic, and they are going to create GROUPS probably by Tuesday they say!
So - then, you can break up forums according to each group - facilitators, gatherers....... etc.
In the meantime, may I suggest a simplification of the category names?
You currently have questions for the categories..... maybe it would be better to rethink in broad terms...........
for instance, if you didn't have groups on the way, I would think of having categories like this:
General Discussion
Gatherings
Facilitating
Workshops
Techniques and Materials
Personal Experiences
T.D. Publicity
Soulcards
Ning Website Usage
Some of these questions can be grouped under broad head categories such as these, and then it makes it easier to scan the type of category you would like to post under when you create a "new discussion"
Some of these questions, too - such as "connect with people from the gathering" - or "connect with people who were in a workshop with you" - will happen soon, just by use of the search functions they are creating.......
but if you want to do it right away, see my example below.... by rephrasing the forum discussion from "connect with" - which is passive, I've made it a direct question, which creates more interaction....
this is a perfect time to use to draw and re-draw this website, so that the flow will be clear and concise........
the clearer and more concise it is in the beginning, the easier and faster it will grow. :)
Don't worry about deleting any questions or things you have started already, either..... I don't think we've really put up much of value as of yet...... so it's still a perfect time to rearrange/delete/create new items........
Just be sure the category titles are as short as possible......... if you can get the jist of it in one word - all the better......... it just makes it that much easier to scan them.....
and THEN - break down the categories into questions from there.......
So, as a further example, using the categories from above, and the questions we currently have on the forum....... they could be arranged (and/or re-written to be more interactive) like:
General Discussion
Gatherings
Who has been to any of the gatherings? Say hello here!
Facilitating
Workshops
Have you been to a T.D. workshop? Which one(s) and when?
Techniques and Materials
How much paint is good to use each time?
Personal Experiences
How have you found success in continuing to DO Touch Drawing?
Have you had any challenges in the experience of T.D?
What are some of your amazing stories and experiences?
T.D. Publicity
Soulcards
Ning Website Usage
What would you like to see in an online T.D. community?
How do I know what new members have joined?
How do you search for people who live in certain areas?
This is all an example of how I think this could be organized to be a little clearer. If you can think of any more general categories - then cool - but of course, this comes down to a judgment call on what to combine, and what to separate for the easiest, and quickest way to find something you are looking for..........
What do you think, Deborah? What are your thoughts on this way/idea?
Tags: categories, discussions, forum, organization
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Koff-Chapin on -
This is really helpful. If the groups are happening really soon, I think it would be best to set things up in the new groping system...I'm going to call you right now. if I miss you, try calling me - thank you - this is just the kind of help I need at this point.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Runge on -
I've gone through the website several times, and I love the way it is easy to use. The forum page is a bit jumbled for my liking, and I like the way Amanda showed another break down:
"General Discussion
Gatherings
Who has been to any of the gatherings? Say hello here!
Facilitating............."
I am moving my stuff around my page and inviting friends already in the site and clicking everything I can. I will keep you posted on my comings and goings, but I find the ning system pretty easy to use, and I not bright when it comes to computers.
Big smiles to you.
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Koff-Chapin on
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The forums are going to start being more focused as we get groups going. Each group will have its own forum. for instance, you could start a group for people who teach TD in college art classes (That is the age group you teach, isn't it?) I'll look at how the central forum is organized, though, and see if I can improve it.
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