Create a mini 'classmates.com'
May 8, 2010 11:08 AM Subscribe
I want to create a web page that would allow alumni of my little public elementary school to a) see a calendar of evening events they'd be welcome to attend b) browse a list of opportunities to volunteer, and, most importantly c) 'register' with an email address to join a mailing list and receive notices of the above. Since these are children, everything has to be moderated and likely a parent will be in charge of checking to make sure kids are who they say they are. I'm somewhat social-networking challenged and know that there are 'groups' for this sort of thing on yahoo and elsewhere- is there an obvious choice for this?
I would strongly encourage you to get this cleared with your administration first. And, you'll probably want to have at least one paid staff member responsible for this... feels a bit risky to leave in the hands of a parent volunteer.
You could consider google calendar (they can be made public to browse) and they can be embedded in a web page. You could easily set up a free blog that would have announcements, could host the calendar, and kids could register. WordPress would probably work for this.
posted by HuronBob at 11:22 AM on May 8, 2010
You could consider google calendar (they can be made public to browse) and they can be embedded in a web page. You could easily set up a free blog that would have announcements, could host the calendar, and kids could register. WordPress would probably work for this.
posted by HuronBob at 11:22 AM on May 8, 2010
A lot of people are leaving Ning since it's due to start charging. Spruz.com might be one alternative worth looking at.
posted by AuroraSky at 11:30 AM on May 8, 2010
posted by AuroraSky at 11:30 AM on May 8, 2010
If you're in the US, you should make sure to read up on the COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) rules. Your "C" requirement above may not be possible without parental approval unless it was a one-time notice (Prior parental consent is not required when an operator collects an email address to respond to a one-time request from a child and then deletes it).
This may complicate using something off-the-shelf like what's been mentioned already.
posted by FreezBoy at 11:45 AM on May 8, 2010
This may complicate using something off-the-shelf like what's been mentioned already.
posted by FreezBoy at 11:45 AM on May 8, 2010
Response by poster: Sorry, I should have mentioned that, while I'm not an avid user of social networking, I'm very, very aware of laws regulating children's use of the internet. Parents of all children will be involved at all stages. For purposes of this question, please assume I'm informed and intelligent. Thanks!
posted by carterk at 12:44 PM on May 8, 2010
posted by carterk at 12:44 PM on May 8, 2010
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posted by knile at 11:14 AM on May 8, 2010