How+to+get+started


 * How to use this wiki**

Find out about the different tools and applications from the left hand menu.

Meet with your board and discuss the options offered to you **at length.**

Consult with your members, if possible, or think about what you know of your members, their level of comfort with technology, whether they have easy access to the web and what technologies to introduce.

Are you going to introduce everything all at the same time, or are you going to plan a gradual introduction of different tools so that your members have sufficient time to get used to using them.

Using technology for your TA's activities, one might argue, is another way of helping your members with their own professional development in using Web 2.0 tools, but do spend as much time as you can on this.

It is worth spending plenty of time deciding on the aims/goals so that the right choices are made. It's important that the tools are chosen that fit the aims/needs of the TA rather than the choice of technology determining what the TA can or cannot do.

Once you have gone for one option, you may find that It can be extremely hard to change afterwards.

** The high cost of conventional advertising and keeping in touch **

Teachers' Associations often find it difficult to advertise to a wider audience as printing and postage costs and advertising in magazines and newspapers are all getting more expensive every year.

The world wide web with its infinite possibilities for a strong presence which will retain your current membership as well as attract new members is an attractive proposition for most TAs.

There are many different ways which will allow you to be more visible, attract new members to your association and, at the same time, keep your existing members engaged.

In these pages, we are making a start by listing the main ones (at the time of writing), but new applications appear every day and it is possible that the tools we are listing today may be replaced by new ones.

Whatever the means you select are going to be, we believe two things are important:


 * Organising interesting events and conferences
 * Including interesting and engaging content in anything you decide to publish

Updating frequently is also a must, and although this may be difficult for volunteers, it is quite important, so that you keep interest high and your colleagues visiting your pages and suggesting them to others.