The co-design phase of ruralnet|online has now closed but will remain here for reference.

Paul and David have been working hard to pull the focus group together - the detailed programme is here.

The focus group already has enough members but we could make space for one or two more people. If you are interested please call 0845 1300 411 and ask for Angela or comment on this post.
 
 
 
 

I know you're not supposed to start with a feature list but I think that writing down the sorts of things that ruralnet|online 2.0 might do can't do any harm. The focus group, that meets for the first time next week, will drag us back to first principles if necessary. Comment on this post if you'd like to be involved in the focus group.

So what sorts of activities should ruralnet|online support? Here's a started for 10:

• Just in time support to rural people, rural groups, communties and organisations through Experts Online
• Self-serve access to funding in formation through GRANTnet (backed up by funding expertise in Experts Online)
• Forums? See some ideas on these here.
• ??

Should we incorporate a virtual training room? So that rural people, scattered all over the place, can participate in regular training? We've been involved in a pilot with the DTA using the Elluminate 'Virtual Classroom'. I first wrote about this here. And here is a recording of what the trainees thought of the system after their 3rd Elluminate session. Incredibly positive.