Setting Up A Messagboard...

[Sylvanite]

Hello,

I am new here, but I was told this is a good place to get some help.

I teach at the university level and I am planning to establish messageboards for my classes as an extention of the traditional classroom expereience. I have been thinking about buying a messagboard package like vBulletin but I have a couple of concerns...

First, is this software user friendly and intuitive or does it require a bit of technical knowledge?

If it is pretty technical, are there such things as classes or seminars I might attend to learn how to do these things. If so, where do I find them?

Lastly how much server space will need to run a small Messaeboard community?

Any help is greatly appreciated. 🙂

Peter

 

[BlueWeasel]

How are you planning on hosting the messageboard? Through the university perhaps?

I've never actually setup a messageboard, but some hosts have the capability to setup a messageboard in minimal time. We just finished getting web hosting for the small company I work for, and there is a program/script within the control panel called Fantastico that lets me have a messageboard up in a matter of minutes.

 

[Sylvanite]

I am putting it up on the U's server. We get an amount with an alloted amount of space and can request more if I need it. I do not recall how much we get, I will have to find out.

 

[jfall]

If it's a Linux server just get PHPBB2 it's a free message board, easy to use and setup

 

[cw42]

Here at NJIT, some classes use a service called WebCT (webct.com). Basically it's a service that allows to use of calanders, assignment posting/sending in, messageboards, and a bunch of other things. I have no idea how much it may cost.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: cw42
Here at NJIT, some classes use a service called WebCT (webct.com). Basically it's a service that allows to use of calanders, assignment posting/sending in, messageboards, and a bunch of other things. I have no idea how much it may cost.

yeah we use it too, can be a PITA sometimes though and i hate the built in mesage board software - it sucks.

 

[Sylvanite]

Originally posted by: cw42
Here at NJIT, some classes use a service called WebCT (webct.com). Basically it's a service that allows to use of calanders, assignment posting/sending in, messageboards, and a bunch of other things. I have no idea how much it may cost.

We have WebCT here and a campus porthole that provides message boards for every class which I do currently use...

These boards, however, lack the graphic presentation that we see on boards like this one. I am of the opinion that better looking boards, that allow for easier reading of entire threads at once, facilitate better interaction.

As far as a "linux" or whatever type of sever we have here, I am totally ignorant about such stuff. That's how "remedial" I am on these things. I am not afraid of the stuff, I am willing and eager to learn, but I am totally ignorant about a lot of it and where to begin.

Any books or webpage FAQs that might help?