Frequently Asked Questions About the Mentoring Forums

Posted Fri, 04/10/2009 - 16:00 by Michael Garringer

Our FAQs are separated into five main categories:


GENERAL QUESTIONS

What are the Mentoring Forums?
The Mentoring Forums website is devoted to providing youth mentoring professionals with an open forum where they can discuss best practices for program delivery, new resources, funding opportunities, and other timely information that can help improve mentoring programs for youth. The site is also a place where mentoring professionals can share documents, have private conversations, and pose questions to their peers.

The focus of this site is youth mentoring. Posted messages about adult-adult mentoring, corporate or business mentoring, or other variations on the concept of mentoring not related to young people will be deemed inappropriate for this site.

Who can join?
The Mentoring Forums are open to anyone in the mentoring field who would like to join. This includes program staff, evaluators and researchers, training and technical assistance providers, and even mentors. We have a wide variety of users on this site, which makes for lively discussions and valuable information sharing.

We ask that all users read our User Guidelines prior to creating an account and that they follow these guidelines while using the Mentoring Forums. Violations of these guidelines will be dealt with appropriately by our staff.

Do I have to join the Mentoring Forums to read posted messages?
No. Posted messages and comments can be viewed by non-members. However, you must create a user account in order to post new messages or reply to ones posted by other users.

Where can I direct questions about the Mentoring Forums?
All questions, comments, permission requests, and suggestions should be directed to Administrator Michael Garringer at Michael.Garringer@educationnorthwest.org or 503-275-9647.


USER ACCOUNT INFORMATION

How do I sign up for an account?
Creating an account is simple: Visit http://mentoringforums.educationnorthwest.org/ in the Web browser of your choice (the site looks best in Firefox). Click "Create New Account" in the Log-In box on the left side of the page. From here you will be asked to create a user name (this is the name that will appear with your posts) and submit a valid email address that will be used for confirmation of your account.

Once you receive the confirmation email, simply follow the instructions to confirm your account, set your password, and log into the Mentoring Forums. Once you have done this, you will be able to post new messages and reply to previous posts from other users.

How do I access my account?
You can access your account via the Log-In box that appears in the left side of the Mentoring Forums pages. Once you have logged in, this box will display your user name and provide links to manage various aspects of your account.

Can I edit my account?
Yes. Simply click "My Account" in the user box on the left side of the page. From here you will be able to view, edit, and track your account. "Edit" allows you to change your email, password, and signature, while "Track" allows you to view all of your recent posts to the Mentoring Forums in one list.

Can other users view my account information?
Not really. By clicking any user’s member name, others can view some basic information about their account, such as how long they have been a member of the Mentoring Forums. You can also click "Track" to see their recent posts. Users can also send a private message to another user by clicking "Send this user a message" at their user account screen (this can also be done by clicking the "SEND PRIVATE MSG" link in any user’s forum posts).

What do I do if I lose my password or cannot log in?
Just click the "Request new password" link in the Log-In box on the left hand side of the page. Simply provide the email address associated with your account and a new temporary password will be sent to that email address. You can use this temporary password one time to access your account and set your own password with something of your choosing.

Can I have more than one account?
No. You can only have one account per email provided. We also discourage members from having multiple accounts under different emails. The forum is a place for individuals and we ask that users only create and use one account at a time.

Can I have an avatar for my account?
No. An avatar is a small picture associated with your user name that appears with each message you post, commonly a personal photo or organization logo. At this time, the Mentoring Forums do not allow users to have an avatar. You can, however, create a custom signature that will appear with every message you post to the Forums.

How do I unsubscribe from my account?
You can stop participating in the Mentoring Forums at any time. We reserve the right, however, to keep your messages up as part of the Forums archives. In general, we do not delete user accounts or remove posts, as this would disrupt the readability and usefulness of past discussions. Please contact Mentoring Forums Administrator Michael Garringer via private message or at Michael.Garringer@educationnorthwest.org if there is a compelling reason to remove your account or previous posts entirely.


USING THE MENTORING FORUMS

How do I read messages?
The easiest way to read messages is by clicking on the many topical discussion areas found on the home page of the Mentoring Forums. These include dedicated sections on mentor recruitment, mentoring activities, program evaluation, and so on. Within each of these topical areas, you will see a listing of the posts submitted by other users, displayed with the most recent posts first. Posts with new comments in them will be listed as "updated." To read a post, and comments left by other users, just click the title of the post. You will then see the original post and all replies to it.

You can also access posted messages via the search box located in the header of each page. This allows you to search all messages on the site by keyword or phrase.

New posts and messages can also be accessed through the "New Forum Topics" and "Active Forum Topics" boxes on the left hand side of each page.

How do I reply to messages?
You can reply to a post by clicking the post reply button located just below the title of any post. You can also reply by using the "Post New Comment" template located at the bottom of each page of comments.

You can also reply specifically to the comment of another user by clicking the reply button included with each comment. This allows for threaded discussions within each post.

You can even quote the original post or a comment when you reply. To do this, simply click the quote button found below each post and comment. You can then edit which parts of the original post or comment you would like to include in your reply.

How do I post a new message?
Posting a new message for others to read is easy. Once you are logged in, simply click on the topical category you wish to post in. Near the top of that category page, you will see a new topic button. Simply click that button and fill in the template that appears. Hit "Preview" to see what your message will look like once it has been posted, or click "Save" to post your message. Once you have posted your message, you will be taken to the post itself. You can return to the topical category by using the breadcrumb navigation located just above your post.

You can also post a new message by clicking the "Create Content" link in the user box on the left side of the page. Select "Forum topic" and fill in the template as described above. Be sure to hand select the appropriate forum category from the pull down menu when using this method.

Which category should I post my message in?
As you can see on the Mentoring Forums homepage, there are several established categories for discussion. We ask that you post your messages in the appropriate category; messages posted in unrelated topic areas will be moved or deleted. If your post does not fit in one of the provided categories, please place it in the Miscellaneous Mentoring and Youth Development Topics section.

Can I post the same message in multiple discussion categories?
No. This is known as "cross-posting" and is not allowed. Please post your message in only one category. If your message covers multiple topics, please consider breaking it into separate messages or pick the one category you think fits best.

What types of content can I post in a message?
Questions about any aspect of running a youth mentoring program are encouraged. The Mentoring Forums website is a place where mentoring professionals can network, share, and learn from each other. Most postings will simply consist of written messages. Images are not allowed to be embedded in messages (this includes user avatars).

Examples of appropriate content include:

  • Questions about best practices for running a mentoring program
  • Announcements of new funding opportunities
  • requests for advice on how to handle an issue in a mentoring relationship
  • Examples of materials your program has used successfully in administering your program.

Examples of inappropriate content include:

  • Solicitations for volunteer mentors
  • Advertisements of any kind
  • Political discussions
  • Personal attacks
  • Copyright protected information

Users can also upload file attachments to their posts. This allows users to share documents and other useful program materials. Please respect copyright law when attaching files to your posts; any violations will be removed and user accounts will be closed if copyright violations occur. Please see the User Guidelines for additional details about what types of content are allowed.

Am I allowed to format my posted messages?
Yes. You can edit the appearance of your message, and insert links and other content, by using BBCode (this is most easily done with the BBCode toolbar located directly above the "body" text area of the new post template). Please note that messages must be formatted in a way that allows them to be easily read by other users, so please keep message formatting to a minimum when possible.

Does my message need to be approved before it is posted?
No. Posts are uploaded to the forums immediately. However, any posts that violate our guidelines will be removed and users may have their accounts suspended or closed entirely. Please see the User Guidelines for additional details about what types of content are allowed.

Can I change how messages and comments are displayed?
Yes. Within any topical category, you can sort the order of posts by clicking the "topic," "replies," "created," and "last reply" links located at the top of the listing of posts. The default setting is reverse-chronological, with the newest posts listed first.

Within any particular post, you can change the order and appearance of comments left by users. You can view them as collapsed or fully expanded, sort chronologically, and set the maximum number that will display on any one page.

What are the blocks of information on the left side of the page?
Several blocks of information can be found on the left side of each forum page. These blocks make it easier to find your user account information and keep track of new and active discussions. Before you log in, you will see the "Log-In" block, where you can enter your user name and password. Once you are logged in, this box becomes your user account block, which provides links to your private messages, your account details, your recent posts, and more.

Below this top block you will find blocks listing the Mentoring Forum topic areas, recent forum posts that are being discussed, and a listing of other users who are currently logged into the Mentoring Forums.

How do I search messages?
You can search all Mentoring Forums messages by typing keywords into the search box in the header section. You can also access the search page directly here: http://mentoringforums.educationnorthwest.org/search.

This search page allows you to search the content of posted messages or for specific users. You can also restrict your search to specific topical categories using the advanced search feature.

How do I send a private message to another user?
There are two ways you can send a private message to another user. You can send one by clicking on a user’s name and visiting his or her user profile. On every user’s profile page, there is a "Send this user a message" link that opens the private message template.

You can also send messages to another user directly from one of his or her posted messages or comments. Just below each user name in a post or comment, there is a "SEND PRIVATE MSG" link that will take you to the private message template.

Once you have sent a private message, it will show up in that user's "inbox" the next time he or she logs in. If you have messages sent to you, the number of new ones will appear next to the "Messages" link in your user account block when you log in.

Please note that private messages are subject to the same content and behavior guidelines as posted messages and other site content. Our staff does not access private messages, but will act accordingly if we are alerted by a user that someone is abusing the private message feature.

What is the "ignore user" feature?
This feature allows you to "block" the postings and private messages from a specific user. While not a commonly used feature, this can be handy if a user tends to frequently post information that is not valuable to you. Please alert the Mentoring Forums Administrator via private message or at Michael.Garringer@educationnorthwest.org if you are having an issue with another user.

Can I "subscribe" to a topic through RSS or other means?
Yes. The Mentoring Forums allow you to subscribe to any of the main topical areas listed on the homepage via an RSS feed. You can learn more about RSS feeds and how they work here. To subscribe to a topical category via RSS, simply click that category on the homepage and scroll to the bottom of the page where you will see the RSS icon (RSS icon). Click the icon and choose the RSS software of your choice from the drop down menu that appears.

Can I use content from the Mentoring Forums in other websites or publications?
All content on the Mentoring Forums is the property of the National Mentoring Center at Education Northwest. Posted messages and other content may not be reprinted or re-purposed elsewhere without the written permission of Education Northwest. Any documents uploaded to the Mentoring Forums are the property of the original copyright holder. All requests to reuse content from this site should be directed to Mentoring Forums Administrator Michael Garringer at Michael.Garringer@educationnorthwest.org.


REPORTING PROBLEMS

What types of posts are considered inappropriate?
In general, posts are considered inappropriate if they: a) contain abusive, offensive, or inappropriate language, b) contain advertising, personal messages, or other content not related to youth mentoring, or c) contain copyright-protected material that the user does not have permission to share. Messages that violate any other User Guidelines may also be edited or deleted by our staff. Please see our User Guidelines for additional information about what is considered appropriate. The site is a place for mentoring professionals to network and share ideas, so we expect that all behavior on the site will be professional and courteous.

What do I do if I see an inappropriate post?
You can report an inappropriate post or comment to a post by clicking the "flag as offensive" link located at the bottom of each post or comment. This provides you with a simple template that sends a message to the site Administrator notifying him of the issue so it can be addressed accordingly. You can also alert us to problems by sending a private message to Forum Administrator Michael Garringer or by sending an email to Michael.Garringer@educationnorthwest.org. Please be specific when alerting us about an inappropriate posting.

What do I do if someone sends me an inappropriate private message?
If you receive an inappropriate private message from another user, please contact Michael Garringer (the site Administrator) via private message in the Mentoring Forums or by emailing Michael.Garringer@educationnorthwest.org. We will rectify the problem and stop any inappropriate behavior. You may also want to add the offending user to your “ignore user” list.

Can I get in trouble for posting inappropriate content?
Yes. We will handle inappropriate use of the Mentoring Forums on a case-by-case basis. Options for dealing with inappropriate content include, but are not limited to, deleting posted messages, issuing warnings, and banning users and purging their accounts. Postings that violate copyright may result in alerting the copyright holder of the violation, which could result in further legal action by the copyright holder. Please see our User Guidelines for additional information about what is considered appropriate.


CONTACT INFORMATION

Who runs the Mentoring Forums?
The Mentoring Forums are a product of Education Northwest. The Administrator is Michael Garringer (Michael.Garringer@educationnorthwest.org; 503-275-9647) at Education Northwest. The Mentoring Forums are provided as a free resource to the mentoring field so that mentoring professionals can share best practices and critical information that can strengthen youth mentoring programs.

What should I do if I have a questions, suggestion, or concern about the Mentoring Forums?
All questions, comments, permission requests, and suggestions should be directed to Administrator Michael Garringer at Michael.Garringer@educationnorthwest.org or 503-275-9647.