-Tell me about how you put the contents/things together at the site...what factors did you consider with your choice of webhost, the design/theme contents/folders, the gallery. Or did these things come to you naturally having had previous experience with managing or moderating forums?
The site is on its second webhost. The one before, I picked because I felt it offered the best features at that price point. This second one, I picked because I was sold to the "green hosting" hooplah while still having comparative features. In reality, this new host can't be that much more sustainable than the previous one. But still, a little improvement is better than nothing.
I used Joomla simply because it's the content management system I had the most experience with. And it'll be easier to maintain by people with little or no web development or programming experience, in the event of having others administer the site.
The site theme and layout was borne from my personal taste as well as feedback from early users.
-Is there a difference with the work and interaction YOU do (and experience) via the UPOU community site versus previous sites/forums you've been with?
Yes. You don't completely lose the student-teacher dynamic in the UPOU Community Site. There's already an established relationship among many members even before they signed in. In other upstart online communities, you don't have that. Most people don't even know each other, so there's a higher level of anonymity. It hardly matters if you're a teacher, student, doctor, engineer, bum or whatnot, at least up until something out of the ordinary happens.
-Did you expect it to be discovered (by anyone from UPOU)? What were your initial plans for it to be noticed...or launched?
Yes, I did, because I invited students to be beta testers. While the response of my own DCS students was disappointing, I didn't really intend to make a big fuss over its existence. As long as it regularly attracts new members, even in small numbers, I'd consider it a success.
-Have your expectations been met in terms of initial response, site usage, current users?
Or maybe, any frustrations or unmet expectations?
Initial response was, like I said, a bit disappointing. I expected a little bit more enthusiasm, especially on the side of the UPOU faculty and my own DCS students. When that didn't happen, certain things came about that questioned my preconceptions of what a UPOU person really is.
But now with certain realizations in check, I think it's all fine as far as the level of activity is concerned.
-Any surprises...in terms of interaction/ experience you did not foresee nor expect (but happened) from users (old and new), you included?
Well, I did not expect a supposedly intelligent grown man to act like a twelve year old brat in the forum. My expectations of the general demeanor of the UPOU populace was much higher than that. Does that count?
I also didn't really expect for the site to be embraced by a small but dedicated number of people the way they did, which were most apparent during the last two UP Lantern Parades.
-Would you consider this site as one to put in your list of creative work or accomplishment? Why so or...why not if ever?
I really haven't thought about it. I never thought of it as a big deal at the beginning. In some ways, I still don't. But this was before I saw it as a platform for social experiments. So who knows, with a bit more dedication, maybe it can be one.
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