Resources
This project includes several potential technology resources. These tools are under development at this time, formal deployment is still to come...
Afro Blog
First is the Afro Blog, located at www.afroblog1.blogspot.com. This Blog is based on the Google Blogger service and as such is fully supported and dependable. It offers a web site type announcement medium that users can go to visit and view postings about AASRP and related groups’ operations. Posts made here are a permanent presence on the web and can be archived as necessary. The blog appearance and interface options are moderately customizable but are generally kept to a minimum for ease of use. Visitors are able to make comments on posts as they wish, which may be regulated by a moderator. Readers cannot post comments in direct response to one another, only to the main postings. Only a single account has access to post items to the blog, making it best deployed as an announcement and discussion tool for a leader or authority figure.
The Afro Blog has several requirements for complete implementation. First and foremost persons with access to the administration account must be identified and informed about usage of the blog. Second, a promotional plan must be created. I won’t detail this here, as advertising should be custom tailored to the specific use of the blog. For instance, a blog used as a discussion follow up to a conference would be best advertised by emailing the disjoint conference participants (through a listserv!). The blog could also be used for departmental or program purposes as well as class or organizational reasons. Topics would be fitted to the audience and might include organizational interests (SPEAK, Urban League, etc…), program uses (feedback on classes, information about graduation, speakers or seminars, and more), activism (organizing protests, support rallies, outreach efforts or volunteer projects), conferences (prelude and post-conference, announcement or dialog oriented), and for community purposes (church groups, family events, hip hop gatherings, town government meetings and more). These needs are easily met once a place for blog use is identified. For instance, the blog could be used for a class. The professor or TA’s would then have access to post, and material related to readings, tests, and concepts from the class would then be the subject of posts, along with any other information or announcements pertinent to the class. Students would be encouraged (or required?) to go and make comments and participate in reading the blog.
If you would like to read and comment on Blog topics, simply click the link above.
How to use the Afro Blog (operator guide)
Afro Listserv
The next tool, which could easily be used as a supplement to the blog, is the Afro Listserv. This resource is located at the email address AFRO-L.listserv.uiuc.edu. The listserv is basically a giant email list that is managed by one or more administrators and moderators. Announcements can be sent over the list to participants. The system is different then a Blog because users do not have to actively go visit a web page in order to receive information. They may also subscribe and unsubscribe themselves at will. The list is currently set up so that response emails to the list post are directed to the administrator. Alternatively permissions could be altered so that users have the freedom to Email the entire list about topics. This runs the very real risk of flooding recipient’s email boxes and agitating users to the point where they unsubscribe. In my professional opinion discussions are best kept to blogs and forums, and listservs are effective email announcement tools.
Requirements for listserv implementation are about as demanding as a Blog. At least one person must be set as a list administrator in charge of sending out announcements and adding or removing users from the list as needed. Emails of participants of the listserv are required for this tool. Topics of the listserv would be much the same as those of the blog, but will generally be more oriented towards informing and announcing, as users are unable to respond back to the sender. Ideally a listserv would function as a weekly announcement of events, perhaps a newsletter, or meeting minutes or way of advertising things like the Afro Blog or Afro Forum. In terms of self sustainability the listserv requires more active effort by the moderator and administrators, because users can and will email back to them with questions. They also have to deal with dead email address responses or full inboxes or whatever other problems one might encounter with email.
If you would like to suscribe to the Afro Listserv, just...[UPDATE]
How to use the Afro Listserv (operator guide)
Afro Forum
Last is the Afro Forum which is currently operational at the address jag85.com/forum. This is essentially the same as blog, but anyone is allowed to make discussion topic postings. Users are required to create a profile (which encourages accountability as well as development of identity) in order to make posts. Any person can respond to the post of any other person on a forum. Visitors are able to read whatever they want, but must create an account to participate. A forum offers all of the benefits of a blog with the only downside being that it is more complex to use and users must create accounts to post responses. If user information is known beforehand accounts might be created for individuals by a moderator (say a TA who might create accounts for their class). The forum offers many benefits beyond the Blog. First and foremost, it is more conducive to dialog, dialectic and comprehensive discussion. Posts are structured and organized in a hierarchal tree-branch fashion allowing for easy navigation. The forum offers more flexibility and interface options – a totally customizable appearance and items like the number of users logged on. Users can create polls, develop personal profiles (with contact information or more links to related causes), and post images and links (greater connection and visual elements).
The forum, in all other regards, would have the same mission profile and requirements for deployment as the Afro Blog. If anything, there are more potential topics because of the open-ended nature of posting.
How to use the Afro Forum (all users)
