Scratch
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#1 2008-07-27 12:29:25
- lsquaredmom
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2008-07-24
- Posts: 25
forum suggestions
I have only been using Scratch and this forum for a few days, but here is what I have to suggest after that small experience:
1.) Create a forum where it is more obvious which comments someone is replying to even if they don't use the quote feature. There are so many people in every thread that when one person replies to another in the same thread, you don't know which comment they are replying to unless they use the quote feature. It makes the thread a bit difficult to follow. Maybe a forum where a small indentation is made would work. Of course this may introduce more problems since after several replies, the posts are so indented that there is not much room left.
2.) Maybe there could be separate forums for beginner programmers and experienced programmers. As I read through stuff I can see the kids getting really confused when they try to read things posted by folks who obviously have years of programming experience in more sophisticated languages. If I were a kid just beginning to use Scratch and I went to the forum to ask a question or make a suggestion, but first I try to see if someone else has posted something similar and then I start reading through all the stuff I see, I think I would get really discouraged and give up.
3.) It would be nice to be able to do a Forum Search within just a specific forum or even a thread. Right now the forum search is for all forums.
Last edited by lsquaredmom (2008-07-27 12:52:02)
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#2 2008-07-27 15:09:19
- Paddle2See
- Scratch Team
- Registered: 2007-10-27
- Posts: 1000+
Re: forum suggestions
I agree with you on your first point. It is difficult to figure out who is responding to who (or should it be whom?).
I'm not sure I agree with your second point. It is true that beginners can be confused by some of the posts. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. It can lead them to question and explore. Many beginners have learned many things simply by following up on what they read in the forums. And I include myself among the group of learners. I personally learned about numerous useful programs (Paint.net, Camstudio, Blender, Alice) and many other things simply from forum conversations.
I agree with your third point, desiring a forum specific search. However, I still want to be able to do cross-forum searches as well.
Keep up the observations! We all benefit from your fresh viewpoint.
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#3 2008-07-29 17:10:09
Re: forum suggestions
lsquaredmom wrote:
I have only been using Scratch and this forum for a few days, but here is what I have to suggest after that small experience:
1.) Create a forum where it is more obvious which comments someone is replying to even if they don't use the quote feature....
2.) Maybe there could be separate forums for beginner programmers and experienced programmers...
3.) It would be nice to be able to do a Forum Search within just a specific forum or even a thread. Right now the forum search is for all forums.
Thanks for your suggestions...your first idea should be taken care of by using the "Quote" button, however sometimes we don't see everyone using that...any suggestions on how we might encourage this?
As for your second suggestion, we also have the "Advanced Topics" forum for more experienced users, however, we see both inexperienced and experienced users using all forums for different reasons. It's a tough thing to regulate, since some topics for an advanced user might seem really simple, but for an inexperienced user it is really complex...
The third question is an idea we have explored and are looking to work on, but I am not sure if/when this might be available.
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#5 2008-07-29 17:15:44
Re: forum suggestions
Zelda123 wrote:
For searching in one topic, you can do Control + F.
Or apple+f. It lets you find phrases in one particular topic and is browser-based.
If you're looking for a topic, though, it needs to be on the same page as you are on, which kind of defeats the purpose.
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