A private group?

pdr · Mar 21, 2009

I'm trying to sort out which of My Space, Facebook, and that sort of blog thing called Livejournal would allow me to have a private space. By which I mean a space where I can post and my Japanese colleagues/students can access, read and reply.

I have asked for info up in the blog section but they are all busy blogging and can't believe anyone can know as little as I do!

I simply can't keep up with 40 plus e-mails a week and thought something like MySpace might work. However I gather that anyone can comment and I'd hate to have some clown come and mock or correct my Japanese friends who would be so mortified.

Please don't suggest google group thingies as they are too complicated for most of my Japanese friends to negotiate in English.

Adam Israel · Mar 21, 2009

With LiveJournal, you can define lists to restrict access to posts. The only catch is that your colleagues/students would need to signup to LiveJournal for them to be able to see the posts. I think LJ is a fairly good option if the signup isn't an issue.

JenNipps · Mar 22, 2009

I haven't seen private list options on MySpace or Facebook.

I've used Livejournal in the past and have had a private group on there. You can do it as a community where your Japanese colleagues can also post or as a blog where only you post and they can leave comments.

They will have to sign in and have an account, though, for you to be able to give them access to either the community or the blog.

Williebee · Mar 22, 2009

LiveJournal will allow you to do private groups.

You might also consider a wiki, like pbwiki. It's free. You can make it so that each member can read/edit/add to/have their own pages, etc. You can add a calendar.

You can set it so that you must be a member to view/add/whatever, and control that access.

pdr · Mar 22, 2009

Thank you!

Your help is much appreciated. Rep points all round.

I can't quite see how Live Journal works this private space but I'll go back and try. My students can sign up, I've taught 'em that.

I'll look at the wiki thingie, thank you Williebee, but as I've only just got used to using a blog, if it's too different I won't be able to use it quickly enough fo rmy students!

BardSkye · Mar 22, 2009

Would a forum work for you? I'm pretty sure many of them are still free to set up and run, if you don't need all the bells and whistles. I know Proboards is still free.

Deleted member 42 · Mar 22, 2009

pdr said:
Your help is much appreciated. Rep points all round.

I can't quite see how Live Journal works this private space but I'll go back and try. My students can sign up, I've taught 'em that.

I'll look at the wiki thingie, thank you Williebee, but as I've only just got used to using a blog, if it's too different I won't be able to use it quickly enough fo rmy students!

Look at the LJ FAQ files:

http://www.livejournal.com/support/faq.bml

Williebee · Mar 22, 2009

We're using a number of wikis in classrooms here. They work great for organizing and collaborating for teachers, students, classes and small groups.

Youtube has a number of short "how tos" on wikis.

Here's a page from pbwiki on wiki's in the classroom.

And here's a 4 min. explanation of wiki's from some very cool people at CommonCraft.

Have fun!

pdr · Mar 23, 2009

Have fun!?????

Never, Williebee.

Not with computers. I hate them - seriously - and find them totally illogical and utterly time wasting.

Have spent a whole evening wasting time trying to set up LiveJournal to work as I want it to.

Trouble is that FAQs and instructions never start at ground level but always assume that one understands websites and basic computer structures. I've managed to get a private site, now I hope to goodness my students and colleagues can use it!

If a PC is meant to be a personal and easy to use tool why the hell isn't it?

indiriverflow · Mar 28, 2009

pdr said:
Never, Williebee.

Not with computers. I hate them - seriously - and find them totally illogical and utterly time wasting.

Have spent a whole evening wasting time trying to set up LiveJournal to work as I want it to.

Trouble is that FAQs and instructions never start at ground level but always assume that one understands websites and basic computer structures. I've managed to get a private site, now I hope to goodness my students and colleagues can use it!

If a PC is meant to be a personal and easy to use tool why the hell isn't it?

Imagine doing what you are trying to do without computers at all!

scribbler1382 · Mar 29, 2009

MySpace and Facebook both have this feature, but I've never set it up. You may have to pay for it or something. I know on Nathan Fillion's MySpace page you have to be a "friend" to see his blog (or did, anyway) and on James Rollins' facebook page, you have to be a "fan" to see his stuff. So, it is possible.

Georganna Hancock · Apr 5, 2009

Better late than not at all:

You can set up a private blog on Blogger.com

Members would need some sort of identification, of course, but you would want that anyway, right?

A private group?

pdr

Adam Israel

Formerly known as StoneTable

JenNipps

Have you JHS today?

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

pdr

BardSkye

Barbershoppin' Harmony Whore

Deleted member 42

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

pdr

indiriverflow

scribbler1382

Write For You, Edit For The Reader

Georganna Hancock

she's back!