Suggestion from the newbie

Is there any interest or chance of adding discussion forums based on degree levels. It is sometimes hard to sift through all of the topics to find the ones that deal with my interests (doctoral studies). I know that the needs of bachelors, masters and doctoral students are vastly different when it comes to degree programs. For example, I kept hearing about the big 3 schools, which are fine for bachelors and masters level students, but do not offer programs for doctoral students. I want to know what the big 3 doctoral distance schools are (if that has even been determined). Just a humble suggestion from the newbie....as Rosanne Rosanadana would say...nevermind. -Mark-

 

Great Idea!

I think level-based posting is a great idea.

 

Yes, please.

And a thread for religious schools.

And a thread for time bombs and degree mills.

And and and . . .

 

John Bear writes:

> And a thread for time bombs and degree mills.

How about calling the forum "Time Bombs and Less-Than-Wonderful Schools", so that it's not libelous to mention a school there?

 

For somebody who only uses the recent post feataure, I don't use the different boards, they are all equal!

 

Good Idea

there are a lot of ways to divide up the forum, but I definately think it should be done. All this talk of DANTES, CELP, theology etc is just "noise" for me. How about:

Undergrad
Theology/Divinity etc
MBA/MSc
IT related
Doctorate
Accreditation and Degree Mills
Other

 

Re: Good Idea

Wjat about an undergrade Theology degree that has questionable accreditation!? Like Kristie I use the new post button to get what's new. Even then I'll skip a thread and latter go back to it and find the discussion I thought I was uninterested in has important info in it. Bottom line there is no perfect way to divide threads up. The current one is as good as any.

 

Everyone will have an opinion. The new posts option works for people who are on the site very frequently, but not for others.

A democratic poll is the way to go on this!

 

I've seen forum participation sent into a tailspin (in other forums not here) by trying to break up the topics into a too fine granularity. People then only look at the one or two subjects that they're most interested in. Take DegreeInfo as an example. I'm sure that some threads in the computer subject I would have participated in but I never saw them because I don't ever go there. For a historical perspective, the search function is far superior to having the forum broken up into many subjects. I think that having fewer subtopics or subjects helps to foster more of a community feeling for DegreeInfo.

 

I second the time-bomb and degree mill forum. We post these in Off-Topic but they are actually very relevant to DL discussions. These posts serve as a solid warning to those who pursue the "less than wonderfuls." It would be a good replacement for the former MIGS forum.

John

 

So where does this go/ Just an aimless thread or will some god-like being explain the current setup and the future plans for the structure?

 

Well, as a few people have found out the hard way, this isn't a democracy.

My opinion (and it's just that, since I'm only a volunteer here) is that only one new forum be created, to deal with DL teaching. I agree with Bill that chopping up the board would not be good for participation.

 

I would hate to see this site get broken up into different levels. Sorry that the clep, dantes, big 3 talk bores some. Fact is, it has gotten me enrolled back in school and 6 months away from a degree I never thought I would have. That will then lead me to the next level, a masters. Just look at it this way, in high school the seniors had to suffer the freshman. Just skips those threads that obviously don't cover a topic you're interested in. That's what I do. Speaking for me, I thank every one of you that has helped me get going again.

 

My own experience is that many times, threads evolve in unexpected and interesting directions. Threads with titles such as "XYZ" often evolve into discussions of "ABC" (not to mention "LMNOP.")
Jack

 

So who actually makes decisions about things like this at DI, if its not the administrators?

 

Chip has the final say, since he owns the board.

 

I think that a lot of the regulars here participate in this forum, in part at least, in hopes of providing information for people with little or no background in DL.

I do not believe that the way to help people find that information is to further divide the forums here. For example, it's quite possible that a newbie interested in a school accredited by WAUC would never think to look in a forum about unaccredited schools.

I think that if there is a problem with people finding the info they need, it can be addressed in other ways -- for example, providing introductory posts (including info about searching the forums) that are persistently at the top of the list of posts.

Another thing that would be most helpful is encouraging thread topics that are as specific as possible. (Of course, threads wander, but is it too much to ask that the titles at least start out as being accurate and descriptive?)

 

Again - it is perfect the way it is - Good job guys!

 

DRWetsch

> I second the time-bomb and degree mill forum. We post
> these in Off-Topic but they are actually very relevant to DL
> discussions. These posts serve as a solid warning to those who
> pursue the "less than wonderfuls." It would be a good
> replacement for the former MIGS forum.

Thirded. We could take a leaf from George Gollin's book and call the forum "nonCHEA".

 

format is fine. I often come across topics that interest me while looking for others.