Forum TrainingForum Training

April 21, 2023

What We Will CoverWhat We Will Cover

• Overview of Phorum Terms

• Use, Administration, and Moderation of Phorum.

• Hands on Demonstration of Phorum

• Discuss ‘Roll Out’ Plan for Phorum

• Questions

What We Will Cover (cont)What We Will Cover (cont)

• Phorum has many features, we will focus on the basics.

• Phorum is on your test site. Experiment. Test. Give feedback.

• BEV will also be experimenting and testing. • BEV does NOT have an Online Discussion

Forum. TOP counties are ‘pioneers’ in this area. BEV and the counties will learn together.

Overview of Phorum - Phorum Terms

Overview of Phorum - Phorum Terms

• Phorum - Phorum is the software that is used to manage the Online Discussion Forum on your web site.

• Online Discussion Forum - Provides a web-based forum in which participants with common interests can exchange open messages and ideas. Much like a bulletin board that visitors can view and post messages to.

Overview of Phorum - Phorum Terms

Overview of Phorum - Phorum Terms

• Topic - In online discussions, a topic is a subject with a common theme. Anyone can create a new topic.

• Post - To publish a reply to a topic on the Online Discussion Forum. Also a message that has been previously published is called a post.

• Thread - In online discussions, a series of messages that have been posted as replies to each other on the same topic.

Posting to the Discussion Forum

Posting to the Discussion Forum

• In order to view or post to the discussion forum an individual must first log in.

• The user name and password for logging into the discussion forum will be the same as the user name and password for the People Directory.

• The forum will NOT be visible to the public.

Posting to the Discussion Forum Demonstration

Posting to the Discussion Forum Demonstration

Moderation of the Discussion Forum

Moderation of the Discussion Forum

• Forum Moderators• Can Receive emails of all posts to a topic. (This is the default

setting for your Discussion Forum.)• Can Approve posts before they are added to a topic.• Can Edit and Delete posts to a topic.• Can Close a thread.• Can Hide a thread.

• Note: Forum Administrators determine whether Forum Moderators receive posts before or after they are added to the thread.

• Be aware that moderators are ‘powerful’! Main responsibility is determining appropriate content for your Discussion Forum.

Forum Moderator DemonstrationForum Moderator Demonstration

Administering the Discussion Forum

Administering the Discussion Forum

• Forum Administrator:• Can Designate Forum Moderators• Can Stop Phorum• Key: Forum Administrators and Forum

Moderators are separate roles.

Online Discussion Forum ‘Roll Out’ Plan

Online Discussion Forum ‘Roll Out’ Plan

• Initially, the Online Discussion Forum will be on the county’s TEST website only.

• TLT members will use and test the forum.

• The county VCE agent(s) and TLT members will decide when they would like for the forum to be placed on the counties production website.

Online Discussion Forum Long Term Support Plan

Online Discussion Forum Long Term Support Plan

• County TLTs will field questions from members of the community regarding the use of the Online Discussion Forum.

• BEV will handle technical issues of forum, i.e. software upgrades and patches.

Questions about Forum?Questions about Forum?

Community Connections and Virtual Business Incubator

Overview

Community Connections and Virtual Business Incubator

Overview

April 21, 2023

Community ConnectionsCommunity Connections

• What is the Community Connections program?• Provides professional web hosting service to

non-profit and community organizations for a small fee ($20 per year)

• Gives organizations a web presence • Gives organizations an opportunity to increase

communication and interaction with members of the community

Community ConnectionsCommunity Connections

• What services are provided with a Community Connections account?• Web hosting for a web site (up to 20 megabytes

of text and graphics)• Two permanent email addresses• An online mailing list (listserv) that allows up

to 100 subscribers

Virtual Business IncubatorVirtual Business Incubator

• What is the Virtual Business Incubator (VBI) program?• Provides home and micro businesses (5 or

fewer employees) with professional web hosting service

• Provides marketing and business management assistance to help understand how to integrate the Internet into their business through Community Readiness Workshops

Virtual Business IncubatorVirtual Business Incubator

• What services are provided with a Virtual Business Incubator account?• Web hosting for a web site (up to 20 megabytes of text

and graphics). • No charge for a VBI account until June 30th, 2005.

• After June 30th, 2005, the business will need to find a new web hosting service.

• One permanent email address

• An online mailing list that allows up to 100 subscribers

Comparison of Web Site Listings and Accounts

Comparison of Web Site Listings and Accounts

Community Group Listing on Web Site

Community Connections

Account

Local

Business Listing on Web Site

VBI Account

Can be used by

Non Profit

And Community Organizations

Non Profit

And Community Organizations

Any Business New home and micro businesses

Charge for Service

Free $20 Per Year Free Free. BEV can not host after 6-30-2005

Questions about Community Connections or VBI?

Questions about Community Connections or VBI?