Oh no, I've joined a forum

Joining a forum? yuck. No, that kind of thing is not for me. I can't spend all my time posting to people's comments.
So that's what I have always thought and acted upon.
Admittedly though I have felt a twinge of guilt at times that I have read postings of many forums and benefitted from the posters' advice and experiences. So I kinda felt that maybe I should join one or two - just to even say thanks for the benefit I've derived from their collective wisdom.
I tried to once. I posted but never saw my comments later on.
Discouraged, I never posted again.

Until now.

This time I joined a forum - yep, actually joined - with the intention of really posting my own initiated comments and continuing discussions started by others.

It almost feels like I am doing my civic duty.

And I'm enjoying it a bit. I joined a forum called the coconut diet forum. And no, I am not on a diet. But it's about using virgin coconut oil for cooking and as a supplement. I have used it for over a year and let me tell you the benefits are fantastic. This uncorrupted oil has been doing lots of good for my body. And I learned alot about using it by reading other folks' experiences via forum postings.

This time I decided to post my experiences with using the oil so that it could help others.
I was so proud of myself.

Then after creating a few posts for each one it said ' this post will be reviewed first'
I was surprised. Then when I read the guidelines (which of course I should have done before trying to create a post) it said that intially postings were not monitored but due to the increased traffic and contributors, it became necessary to filter things. Which I understand - it's always a few bad folks who mess things up for the rest of us and then rules get put in place.

But I was suspicious so I checked the next day to see if my posts made it through the review and they did. They were there!!

Now others can ask me questions about my experience with something that has helped me. I really feel like I am doing something charitable!!!!!!!! Hey, charity just went asynchronous and free!!!!!!!

I guess a great part of my hesistation has always been reading lots of posts on prior forums that are just nonsensical in my opinion - such as 'whasup' (as the only post!!) and such things. I realize now that kind of forum probably does not have posts reviewed beforehand.

THe forum I have joined has a lot of personal relevance and there is a lot of courtesy which I am really appreciating.

It just goes to show - once again, it is not the tool but how it is used.

END

Pre course student survery

The lesson this week is all about preparation. I was almost overwhelmed with all the possibilities and angles from which one must prepare and want to say 'fuggedaboutit' (hey, tonight is the last episode of the Sopranos!).
Considering the likely diversity of the audience I could not help but think of the usefulness of pre-class surveys of any sort. Perhaps in a perfect setting the students would have all registered more than a month in advance and you could send them all surveys to assess their backgrounds/levels accordingly to prepare for the course.
However, I don't think final enrolment happens prior to one month usually and the list of students is always in flux.
What do you all think is the reality of pre-course testing? Has anyone had experience with it?

Kasandra