There are many ways of creating discussion groups on the internet - yahoo,
google etc. However I can whole-heatedly recommend Ning as a platform. It is
very user-friendly and pleasant to use - a bit like Facebook but with a
'skin' around it. It is used by a wide range of communities of practice
worldwide and could be an excellent way of discussing these issues and
allowing members to follow discussions of particular interest.
Unfortunately, as I write, the free service is being withdrawn. However for
about £130 a year, a network can be created that allows unlimited
membership, event diaries, subgroups, photos, videos etc. It's very good. A
simpler version costs about £30 pa and could be used with teaching groups.
There are other free services around, but none as good as Ning, and there is
a chance they will start charging in the future.
I have no vested interest in this - I have just been using it for various
groups and projects and can't imagine life without it!
A thriving example close to me is www.blurb.ning.com, which brings togethert
artists and creatives in Staffordshire, UK, but there are many good
examples.
best wishes
Melissa Worth
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cheryl Thornett" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 10:41 AM
Subject: Re: Natecla Conference
>I agree, Phil, that it would be good to continue discussing some of the
>conference issues through this forum. I would add, or rather ask if there
>are any more general or public fora that we can use or link to in order to
>spread the word and the arguments more generally, ideally bringing in
>practitioners who don't usually participate and perhaps even a wider
>education community and others.
>
> It was good to meet you and others.
>
> Cheryl Thornett
> ESOL & Adult Literacy Tutor
> BAES
> Birmingham
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Bird, Phil" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 10:14 AM
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Natecla Conference
>
>> Having thoroughly enjoyed this weekend's NATECLA conference, I would just
>> like to write to express my thanks to all involved in organising such a
>> stimulating and inspiring event. The themes explored around Langauge,
>> Migration and Identity are very relevant to our work as ESOL
>> practitioners.
>>
>> It was also a great opportunity to put faces to names from this mailing
>> list; should anyone wish to continue any of the debates from the
>> conference, I think this a very good forum for doing so. One thing that
>> seemed to come out of the conference was that it is important that ESOL
>> practitioners have a strong collective voice and communication through
>> fora as this one can play a key role in strengthening this.
>>
>> Finally, just to add that I have made the presentation from my workshop
>> available at
>> http://classroom201x.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/natecla-presentation-using-digital-recording-with-esol-students/
>>
>> Again, many thanks to all involved,
>>
>> Phil
>>
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> ***********************************
> ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an
> interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is
> managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research,
> School of Education, University of Leeds.
> To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html
> A quick guide to using Jiscmail lists can be found at:
> http://jiscmail.ac.uk/help/using/quickuser.htm
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***********************************
ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds.
To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html
A quick guide to using Jiscmail lists can be found at:
http://jiscmail.ac.uk/help/using/quickuser.htm
To contact the list owner, send an email to
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