I know the limitations of this forum have been discussed and there may be some improvements in the future. In the meantime, are there enough of us on Facebook or willing to join to make it worthwhile? I'm very happy to set one up and post the link here.
Ok, I admit to not being particularly up with social networking sites, but could you tell me the actual advantages of using Facebook over the forum? Would you need to have separate Facebook pages for each sub-forum? I asked my very savvy 19 year old about it (she convenes a forum for a different group) and she couldn't see any real advantages and thought Facebook could become pretty unwieldy used in this way. I'm not opposed, just curious.
I would be keen. The biggest advantage I would see is we could actually get to know each other a bit as we wouldn't be anonymous. I wouldn't see it taking over from this forum as this is a great place to post when we "want" to be anonymous. No problem having different discussions underway on facebook as seperate topics.
I must admit I'm with Sue, and haven't really cottoned on to the whole facebook phenomena!!! Sure I belong and have 30 odd friends, but other than accepting people as my friend I really have no time for it, and can't see any advantages. I like this forum as it is the only place we have to go to for the gifted ed stuff. I find my time is too short to spend on too many sites!!!
Would love to know the benefits of being on facebook??
Rgds
Marshe
I don't really use Facebook but those who aren't concerned with anonymity could provide photos on facebook and we'd then be able to put faces to names. It may help for more of a 'connection'. However, I would be wary of posting too much about my children on facebook; it's not for me to decide that their business goes public and I love the anonymity of this.
I find this forum quite unwiedly to use. Sometimes it just takes a while to find threads I've posted on (or even started) or new posts on a particular topic.
I too was wondering about the advantage of facebook in this instance. I can see perhaps it might be good for networking... as in, you know who the people writing really are, and it's likely you'd be able to send private messages to people (unless the individual had switched that option off). Aside from that, I personally find the facebook group pages difficult to follow.
I suppose it depends on the individual person and what they think they might gain from joining a facebook group :-)
I'd use it, I find facebook easy to see when there's new messages etc, and to have a reply to a discussion emailed to me rather than coming to the forum, finding the topic and scrolling through. I also like the events popping up as a reminder and as an easy way to rsvp. Maybe start one and anyone who wants to join can. :)
NO to Facebook ... not private enough for my liking! Is hard enough at times without people who don't necessarily 'understand' these kids getting in on it.
My daughter is on facebook and I wouldn't want her to see that I'm posting about her - even if she can't see what I've written.
However I'd love to see the forum software upgraded to something like vBulletin. People would have usernames but they could be nicks like "Mum of 3" etc.
I've got lots of experience with vB so if the powers that be want to ask me any questions I'd be happy to answer them.
Well, it's clear (as usual :-) that not everybody's a FB fan! But be aware that this forum is not private, it's just not used that much. Which is not necessarily a good thing. And you can make a private alias on FB if you really need to.
As to what the benefits are, has the savvy 19-year old tried to use THIS clunky forum and still doesn't see any benefits? There would not need to be separate forums - mainly because each discussion is tidily kept under its origin and there aren't that many new topics posted. If it did get messy, you could use the Discussions area instead of the Wall.
Also, Club Events could be easily posted.
I'd be happy if the forum could be upgraded, and this could happen sometime in the future. But I will check with the committee and see if they have any objection.
Hi Jess - bear in mind that this is an NZAGC committee thing and not an Explorers committee thing.
Essentially I'd say 'go for it' if ppl are keen to do a Facebook page - the more support for the gifted community the better! I would say however that it would have to be a seperate entity and not considered part of the NZAGC.
I am concerned with your labelling of this forum as 'clunky' and certainly feel that is very unfair. This has been an extremely successful and supportive forum for many years - I have been managing the forum for 6 years and it ran for several years before that with Annette Collins as manager.
I have heard many positives and great comments about this forum from both national and international contributors over the years - but not so many negatives. I would agree that a few tweaks here and there could be beneficial - however believe that essentially this is a good, usable and user friendly public forum for gifted children - the biggest and most contributed to in NZ (maybe even the only??).
I have a Facebook account and can't really see how it could run as successfully as this - however have to admit that I'm probably not using all it's functions and to be honest hardly ever use it in any way other than keeping in touch with international friends.
If contributors have issues with this forum, perhaps you could email me at forum@giftedchildren.org.nz with your ideas for how we could ''make it better'! Then as a committee we will have a better idea about which areas need improvement.
I think Facebook would be a great supplement to this existing Forum, for those who wish to use it. One big advantage is that one's posts can be deleted in Facebook, but not on this Forum. As for privacy from children, there is a minimum age for having an account on Facebook I believe (my 8 year old was disappointed at not being able to legitimately join).
(Also, I have a Facebook friend with gifted kids who is keen to join the Facebook page, but doesn't appear to use this Forum)
Well I have only been contributing for a short while and in fact only found this forum earlier this year. I think its great and easy to use. Good to be able to browse entrys when I just have a minute or two, without too much hassle about signing in and all that stuff. Keep it going in its present form I say.
There are a large number of facebook pages and a small number of facebook groups dealing with giftedness. "Mary's gifted contacts" is a growing international facebook group which keen advocates of gifted education are welcome to join. We have parents, teachers and university lecturers in giftedness all involved, and it is a good place to share (and find) information of interest to this broad grouping of people.
Mary's Gifted Contacts, mentioned above, has discussion much like this forum, and is at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_156128687756927 .
Gifted Online also has a page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gifted-Online/153149948035138 and you are very welcome to share images there of gifted kids' art, construction and so on. Note that kids can't have their own facebook accounts under most circumstances, but with the school holidays coming up, it may be a fun activity for your children to choose one or two of their best pieces of art or construction to photograph so that you can upload and share them with the wider world of giftedness. Work by twice exceptional kids that has tell-tale signs of a few of their struggles is equally welcome - so long as parents and child are keen to share the work. Photos by kids would be fun too! There is no need to name or show your child unless you really want to. It is often interesting to know the ages of the children who did the work, but once again, it is your choice.
Teachers and holiday programme people, a gentle reminder to please get parents permission before sharing anything on our facebook page. (I know, you already knew, I just feel better when I've said it).
