Guest Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 Hi Was just wondering if there is already any mention on this forum that I haven't come across yet, of finding people who are members in the same geographical area? If not, would anyone be interested in such an idea? I teach the reception class in a single form entry school and find it quite isolating as it is so different from the rest of the school. I would not want to cut off all contact from the wonderful forum members around the country / world, but just feel maybe the opportunity to talk to someeone in the same LEA, share ideas between schools, maybe visit each others school, let others know of coursees / opportunities in the local area, and maybe even socialise outside of school. I know cluster groups exist and supposedly promote links between schools but at meetings people tend to stay with other teachers from the same school if they are larger schools, and anyway there are not many opportunities in my area. Any thoughts?? Karen Quote
Susan Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 thats an interesting one, Karen. I think lots of us feel the isolation, I know I did, but have gained a lot of support from just being together on here. Sometimes its nice to be able to moan in relative anonymity too! However, if there are others out there who are near you, I cant see thats a problem-just dont forget to keep visiting here! Unfortunately, I'm not near enough to get to you. Any other thoughts anybody? Steve? Quote
Guest Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 Great idea. It'd be great to know those who live comparatively close for contacts and local authorities etc. Anyone else????? Kate Quote
Guest Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 That is so weird - I was thinking the same thing myself this evening! It's a difficult one as I can see Susan's point about the anonymity - especially if you are having a moan!! However, the way I tried to find out this evening was to do a member search by location, which I discovered wasn't an option!! Not sure if the location part of member's details is something that was added after I joined, but I had noticed that some members have stated a location, I added mine this evening! Perhaps there could be a search in this way? Obviously if you want to remain anonymous, then you just omit your location. I'm no computer whizz.....Steve?! Quote
Sue R Posted August 24, 2004 Posted August 24, 2004 Just an afterthought, here, but there's also the MSN facility for those with it. Bottom left hand side, fourth button along. It'll help with the anonymity thing, anyway! Sue Quote
Guest Posted August 24, 2004 Posted August 24, 2004 Thanks for the feedback. I agree with the bit about being able to have a moan and retain anonymity but there is no reason why we couldn't still use the forum in the same way but have the added extra of meeting local people. i certainly would regulary still use the forum as I do now. It's the best thing since.............. home time / school holidays!! The question is how to go about finding the locals????????????? Karen Quote
Sue R Posted August 24, 2004 Posted August 24, 2004 Agreed. Well, I'm not local to anyone in this thread so far - I think? Susan?? Sue Quote
Guest Posted August 24, 2004 Posted August 24, 2004 MSN button??????????????????????????????????????? Quote
Susan Posted August 24, 2004 Posted August 24, 2004 Kate, its on the bottom of Sue's post so I surmise she has the facility. Its not on mine and I know I dont and its not on yours! Those little buttons all get you somewhere too and I didnt know that before today! Quote
Guest Posted August 24, 2004 Posted August 24, 2004 Read your posts - checked my profile and then realised I'd put a location without realising it!! I'm not far from you Sue! Times ticking away from start of term enjoy your remaining hols everyone! Quote
Sue R Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Susan, I meant I don't know where you are! Anyone interested - To get the MSN button on your post, you have to add your msn address, if you have one, on your profile. Kavmar - Whereabouts Derbyshire? Or are you the one I was talking to in Chatroom, just south of derby? Sorry, terrible memory!! Sue Quote
Guest Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 I know why I teach reception- ICT panivcs me. Have no understanding of this MSN stuff- will talk to the ICT coordinator! Not sure of the set up on this forum (I must sound really stupid all round!). What is all the meaning behind 'advanced member' 'part of the furniture' etc, are these jsut pet names or do they signal the 'operators' of this excellent facility?? I take it Steve is the boss and ICT wizz too. so can he advise about way to find out who is local and maybe include on reg form whether you would like to be included on a local contacts list???? Quote
Susan Posted August 25, 2004 Posted August 25, 2004 Karen, not stupid at all! Steve is the brains behind all this and will be in touch with you shortly, at the moment hes jut back from a well earned holiday. You are a "new user", some of us have been around a while longer and depending on the number of posts we ahve made have different titles. Although quite how I came to be a "gardener" I'm not sure and nor is my garden!!! Quote
Steve Posted August 29, 2004 Posted August 29, 2004 * Mumble, mumble * - Who Disturbs Me? Sorry chaps - and thanks Karen for jogging my elbow - it takes a little while to catch up with all the conversation when you've been out of touch for a couple of weeks! Regarding the regional/local thing, I've been thinking for some time about whether it's a good idea and how best to implement it if it is. Since so many of you have voted yes here, I guess I'd better think of it in more immediate terms. The simplest thing to do would be to create a forum for each LEA, but I've always thought it would be good to have a webpage giving other regional information (EYDCP, DfES regional teams, etc) as well. I think Susan and Sue have described the MSN button well. If you have a hotmail address, you can use the MS Messenger chatting facility. Putting this information in your profile in the 'My Controls' screen, will automatically place a button on this line after your posts, and means that anyone from the forum who would like to chat with you directly can ask you to add them to your MSN 'buddies' list. And with regard to the forum setup, many thanks to those discerning people who described me as the ICT whizz or brains behind the forum. I can take all the flattery you feel like hurling at me, no matter how inaccurate! The varying different titles are linked simply to how many posts a member has made. If I remember correctly it goes like this: New User: 0-10 Member: 10-29 Advanced Member: 30-99 Mega Member: 100 - 499 Part of the Furniture: 500-999 Forum Gardener: 1000 upwards. Which tells you, Susan, why you're now a forum gardener. I haven't invented anything above 1000 yet, simply because I'm still in front, although, Susan seems to be catching up fast! I expect at 2000 there will be another title - I'm toying with 'Supreme Ruler of the Known Universe' - but only if I get there first! Thanks Karen for bringing this subject up - I'll give it some more thought and let you know when I make some progress. Quote
Sue R Posted August 30, 2004 Posted August 30, 2004 Steve- :rolleyes: :wacko: And what's a Sue R?? Kavmar - 10 minutes down the A610, turn right at IKEA and you've got me!!! Well, metaphorically! Sue Quote
Susan Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Steve, I did know 1000 posts would get me that wonderful new title!! I liked being an inhabitant and even part of the furniture, but not sure how I can possibly claim to be a gardener! Think I must have missed something? Quote
Steve Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Aha! To understand the Gardener reference, you need to read the extremely tedious article I did a long time ago about setting up the forum. You can find it here. (I wouldn't suggest you read it all, it's far too long for anyone to actually read - just do a search for gardener in the browser) Quote
Beau Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Steve, I read the article (from beginning to end ) some time ago and it was anything but tedious. I found it really interesting - does that make me sad?? Quote
Steve Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Certainly not Carol! It makes you a person of impeccable taste and judgement! Quote
hali Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 It is a facinating article well worth reading.... Quote
Guest Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Hi Steve I've just read your article about setting up the forum and like Carol found it very interesting. I'm really interested in your plans to develop Music in the Foundation Stage, as like many others I don't feel very confident with this area. Anita Quote
Susan Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Gosh, I'm honoured that I might be doing any of that! Quote
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