A Web-based Forum for the DOE Meteorological Community

A Web-based Forum for the DOE Meteorological

Community

A Web-based Forum for the DOE Meteorological

Community

John Ciolek

AlphaTRAC, Inc.

John Ciolek

AlphaTRAC, Inc.

June 27, 2008June 27, 200812th NUMUG Meeting - Charlotte,

NC12th NUMUG Meeting - Charlotte,

NC

Communication Mechanisms Currently Used by the DMCCCommunication Mechanisms Currently Used by the DMCC

• Communication mechanisms:– Web Page– E-mail

• Mailing list (listserv)• Individual e-mails

– Teleconference calls

• Each fills a niche

• Communication mechanisms:– Web Page– E-mail

• Mailing list (listserv)• Individual e-mails

– Teleconference calls

• Each fills a niche



NC



NC

Web PageWeb Page

• Centralized location• Permanent information (good repository)

– New members have easy access to posts

• Controlled by 1 person– Not updated very often– Difficult to add material to

• Needs to have security

• Centralized location• Permanent information (good repository)

– New members have easy access to posts

• Controlled by 1 person– Not updated very often– Difficult to add material to

• Needs to have security



NC

E-mail ListservE-mail Listserv

• Everyone gets every email

• No filtering by personal interest

• Bad repository– Difficult to search– New members do not get past emails

• Not organized by topics

• Everyone gets every email

• No filtering by personal interest

• Bad repository– Difficult to search– New members do not get past emails

• Not organized by topics



NC

Personal E-mailPersonal E-mail

• All group members have access

• Each member needs to continuously update addresses

• Not good repository (multiple copies)– New members have difficult time obtaining

past information– Not easy to search or organize

• All group members have access

• Each member needs to continuously update addresses

• Not good repository (multiple copies)– New members have difficult time obtaining

past information– Not easy to search or organize



NC

Teleconference CallsTeleconference Calls

• Good, inexpensive way to get group together for discussion

• Need transcription and documentation elsewhere

• Only occur every 2 months

• All group members must be available at the same time

• Good, inexpensive way to get group together for discussion

• Need transcription and documentation elsewhere

• Only occur every 2 months

• All group members must be available at the same time



NC

Additional Communication MechanismsAdditional Communication Mechanisms

• Chat Room– All need to be on-line at the same time– Not a good repository

• Blog– Good repository– Only 1 person “speaks”

• Forum

• Chat Room– All need to be on-line at the same time– Not a good repository

• Blog– Good repository– Only 1 person “speaks”

• Forum



NC

Web ForumWeb Forum

• Concept– Central location for all information– Each group member uploads material at any

time (not chat room)– Each member has access to information at

any time– Requires members to go to site

• Can have automated notifications

– Discussion topics are organized by subject

• Concept– Central location for all information– Each group member uploads material at any

time (not chat room)– Each member has access to information at

any time– Requires members to go to site

• Can have automated notifications

– Discussion topics are organized by subject



NC

Web ForumWeb Forum

• Features:– Security via accounts and passwords– Regularly scheduled backup of contents– Ability to upload/download large documents,

images, movies, etc.– Easy search capability– “Private” messages between members– Events calendar for group

• Features:– Security via accounts and passwords– Regularly scheduled backup of contents– Ability to upload/download large documents,

images, movies, etc.– Easy search capability– “Private” messages between members– Events calendar for group



NC

What Goes Into a Forum?What Goes Into a Forum?

• Questions• Answers (from those that know)• Suggestions (things that have or have not

worked)• Success stories• Documents of common interest• Collaboration efforts• Polls - members vote, all see statistics• Support

• Questions• Answers (from those that know)• Suggestions (things that have or have not

worked)• Success stories• Documents of common interest• Collaboration efforts• Polls - members vote, all see statistics• Support



NC



NC

Initial UseInitial Use

• Operational for about 2 months

• 69 members

• 22 topics, 38 posts

• Some reluctance to use

• Operational for about 2 months

• 69 members

• 22 topics, 38 posts

• Some reluctance to use



NC

Questions?Questions?

A Web-based Forum for the DOE Meteorological Community

Documents

Transcript of A Web-based Forum for the DOE Meteorological Community