Recommendations on internet forum software?
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I've fairly recently been hoodwinked into teaching a graduate design studio at the Boston Architectural College, which unlike most architecture schools does not have dedicated studio space for imprisoning architecture students in an idea-filled "hot house" environment--where the critic periodically marches in to whip all that random creativity into shape (or at least that is how it is supposed to work in the standard Beaux Arts pattern).
Instead, at the BAC, I see my design students once a week for three hours, which I spend dissecting their pinned-up architectural designs. To keep the studios moving, the school generally asks students to email images of their work between studio meetings to their instructor for critiques by email.
At the advice of a colleague, I've been posting the images of my students' work onto Google Picasa web albums instead. Under each image I post my critique, and I require the students at a certain point to post responses as well. But this is a little clunky as a process...only I can upload the images, or replace them, and only I can edit posts. I'd much prefer something along the lines of a real forum--like this one we are all on now--where I could set up a thread as the administrator for each new assignment, and then have the students post their own work and updates.
Any recommendations on particular software packages? I do have 50 gigs of storage on a Yahoo server somewhere, but I have no programming experience outside some HTML, Java, Python, and Ruby scripting, so I am intimidated by things that seem to require fluency in ASP.NET and database management.
And incidentally, Google Groups just won't do. I've been experimenting and there doesn't seem to be in GG the capability for giving members the ability to edit their own posts but not others, as we can here. Architecture students regularly flip out and do drastic things...I just don't want to see a virtual studio trashed (threads deleted, etc.) if someone freaks after an all-nighter, way too much caffeine or nicotine, and a particularly vicious put-down from their critic.
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Actually, I have a small business account with Yahoo already...that's who provides my server space and domain. I knew about the gallery stuff, but I wasn't aware they had a forum-type software available...I didn't look to see! Could you send me a link to that particular product area?
Thanks!
Edit: Bruce, after clicking through a couple of advanced tools functions on my Yahoo services page I found a link for adding a phpBB (doesn't say which version) and a MySQL database automatically to my server space. Is that what you mean? It certainly looks straightforward.
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Yes, that's what I was looking at with the phpBB link. It looks promising, and I'm already paying for it! Thanks for bringing this to my attention...I never had bothered looking this far into the account pages before. They do rather hide these options down at the bottom of a page!
Now if Yahoo can only keep from folding or being absorbed by the Borg for the duration of the semester!
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If it's phpBB that yahoo offers as an integrated solution for your ccount, then it's the same software we are using here. As you can see there are plenty of nice solutions and possibilities in the software (and we don't even use many of them).
If you start with it (and certainly will be its admin), it would be a pleasure for me to help with the initial steps. Just drop me a PM and we can work out the how-to's
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Thank you both for your help. The spring break for the school is next week...and I'll have a little vacation too...so I'll try to set this thing up then. I'll be in touch if it is problematic. I'm not trying, of course, to create something as ambitious as SCF...just a more flexible "virtual" studio situation for these seven students of mine and possibly some future courses (if my particular take on "architectural design" doesn't get me fired after this term).
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You'll find me here any time, Lewis, and there's MSN and such as well for quicker communication.
Good luck (and also, please, give feedback later how it works with the students!) -
Well, maybe other version (I'd expect v2 something at least though) but yes, they basically are the same in theory and logic.
Also, when setting up, you might even try to upgrade (at the very beginning so that you won't lose anything if you screww up). These yahoo accounts allow you to do things via FTP I believe. -
Problematically, to use FTP effectively I have to switch over to Linux...for some reason either Yahoo or my local ISP won't let me upload from my Windows computer to my Yahoo server. I've never been able to understand why.
I do have a downloaded copy of phpBB 3, and I've been reading the directions, so if there is a point where I can replace the older version I'll give it a shot.
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Well, I have never been able to find out how to use Windows' FTP connection wizards or what because I have never been able to figure out how it works either. You can use other FTP softwares though (I use Total Commander which is a great fila managment softer, too).
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@unknownuser said:
Lewis...go back to "Create and Update" ...look for "File Manager" This should allow you access to your directory tree if not you have a problem that needs to be solved before you proceed.
Re php forum...Yahoo has an install wizard that will set it up for you on the Yahoo server and establish a db for your data. They also provide back-up services and restore and recovery services for that version but I believe you are on your own if you install manually a newer version and you will also have to understand linux file permission and configuration settings ....not sure I would venture there until you have run their stock board for a few months.
I actually do understand Linux permissions fairly well. However, it is the interaction with php and the database that is a little unclear. I will probably, just for this item, stick with stock board as you suggest.
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