Trainee Section - Low Traffic... Why?

[SparkyChick]

Hi all,

This message is from the staff and we'd like to hear your thoughts/comments.

As you probably know, we have an area of the forums set aside for members who are on electrical training courses. This is 'staffed' if you will by members with the 'Forum Mentor' badge and staff.

The idea is that trainee's can ask questions in there in relative safety, free from the fear their competence will be called into question by those who may have forgotten how clueless they were when they first started their journey.

However, we've noticed that there isn't a lot of traffic in that area. A good example would be a competition recently run by @essex which attracted hardly any entries.

Our question is... why might this be?

We want to increase traffic and usage of the trainee section. I have a competition idea ready to go, but I'd like to think that it will get more than a couple of entries.

So... if you've got a suggestion on why traffic in the trainee section may be low, why people may be reluctant to have a go at competitions designed to help them, why might people be reluctant to ask questions or you've got a suggestion on how we might improve things, please post here.

If you'd rather not post your comments and views in public, then don't keep quiet, start a conversation with me and let me know what you think.


Thanks

SC

 

[MFS Electrical]

The simple answer is the most obvious answer here I think. It’s the amount of data requested to access the trainee area. In a time where everyone is more cautious about who has what and the forum is asking for everything in one go. Name, address, in addition to course and study info. We all use forums to help each other and occasionally mock each other but I wouldn’t want to give out all that info on here or anywhere else.
Name, course, years to go or when did you start. That’s realistically all that’s required the rest feels like data grabbing.

Out of interest what data is actually required?

 

[SparkyChick]

Your Details
Your Full Name:
Your Address:
Your Telephone Number:

Training Details
Training Providers Name:
Training Providers Address:

Course Details
Course(s) you are taking with the Provider:
Date the Courses/Training Started:
Date the Courses/Training Should Be Completed:
Qualification(s) Gained Once Completed:

That's all, which I don't think is unreasonable to try and make sure the person gaining access is legitimate.

 

[MFS Electrical]

Your Details
Your Full Name:
Your Address:
Your Telephone Number:

Training Details
Training Providers Name:
Training Providers Address:

Course Details
Course(s) you are taking with the Provider:
Date the Courses/Training Started:
Date the Courses/Training Should Be Completed:
Qualification(s) Gained Once Completed:

That's all, which I don't think is unreasonable to try and make sure the person gaining access is legitimate.

Why is the personal address and phone number required though? Just to verify who they say they are? Is the address/phone number ever actually used?

 

[SparkyChick]

I've not been staff long enough to know, but personally I like the idea that this effectively takes away the anonymity that (in my opinion at least) results in some downright bad behaviour on the internet.

I would say we have to submit a similar level of information when we want access to The Electricians Arms or the private CCTV/Security forums, so I have no problem with it.

 

[Sintra]

Why is the personal address and phone number required though? Just to verify who they say they are? Is the address/phone number ever actually used?

I've actually just relaxed the rules a little and removed the need to supply the home address and phone number bits. See we do listen

 

[MFS Electrical]

I've not been staff long enough to know, but personally I like the idea that this effectively takes away the anonymity that (in my opinion at least) results in some downright bad behaviour on the internet.

I would say we have to submit a similar level of information when we want access to The Electricians Arms or the private CCTV/Security forums, so I have no problem with it.

personally I couldn’t care less about the info I give it won’t be any regular passwords, my mothers maiden name or bank details but everything else can be bought of the voters role anyway so who cares?
I know though that there are some people who are very tetchy about giving personal info out on the interweb. Can see their point after all you could effectively be anyone.

 

[rolyberkin]

I used to use the trainee section loads when I was doing my Level 2 & level 3 soem years back, however I then went self employed and wanted Arms Access so was removed from the Trainee Section. There are some who may be relatively new to the trade or are inexperienced who want to ask questions away from the cut and thrust of the forums but perhaps do not qualify as trainees. I went on to take my Inspection and Testing qualifications where Trainee access would have been useful and may considering doing my NVQ conversion and AM3 (never got around to doing it). However I am already running my own business so not really a trainee? Perhaps a name change to Training Area may assist?

 

[Sue1]

Maybe they are not members of a governing body or insured and therefore working with someone else who'll answer their questions?

 

[Sue1]

Or they are wet pants like me who just got their electrics and are here looking.

 

[MFS Electrical]

Or they are wet pants like me who just got their electrics and are here looking.

Dry your pants off before you go poking about in a CU you wouldn’t want to feel that sensation

 

[Webswalks]

How do you get in the trainee section then ? currently studying 2365 part 3 NVQ level 3 next.

 

[SparkyChick]

How do you get in the trainee section then ? currently studying 2365 part 3 NVQ level 3 next.

You got to this forum:-

Apply to Gain Access to Trainee-Only Forum - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/forums/apply-to-gain-access-to-trainee-only-forum.60/

And create a post providing this information (copy and paste this and then fill it in):-

Your Details
Your Full Name:

Training Details
Training Providers Name:
Training Providers Address:

Course Details
Course(s) you are taking with the Provider:
Date the Courses/Training Started:
Date the Courses/Training Should Be Completed:
Qualification(s) Gained Once Completed:

Posts in that area can only be seen by the original author and staff members.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

I went on to take my Inspection and Testing qualifications where Trainee access would have been useful and may considering doing my NVQ conversion and AM3 (never got around to doing it). However I am already running my own business so not really a trainee? Perhaps a name change to Training Area may assist?

I imagine the aim is, understandably, to avoid diluting the Trainee Area with posts from those who are not Trainees or Mentors - otherwise the Trainee Area could become just another general discussion sub-forum. However could Arms members have read-only access to the Trainee Area?

That may give the best of both worlds - no one is too old or too experienced to learn something new, or refresh themselves on something they've been doing for years, but perhaps not quite how it should be done under the 18th. This would also be great for those that work in niche or specialist electrical sectors, looking to broaden their knowledge. It would probably result in more new topics being started in the Arms too.

 

[Craig Emmott]

@SparkyChick
Hi, the link or sticky I think you called it, comes up with "You do not have permission to view this page or perform this action".
Could you please point me in the right direction so that I could possibly join the trainee forum, please.

 

[static zap]

@SparkyChick
----- "You do not have permission to view this page or perform this action"----.

As a human .. it does get me when
technology fails to comply !
( I'm obviously not Borg enough to be its boss)

 

[FatAlan]

personally I couldn’t care less about the info I give it won’t be any regular passwords, my mothers maiden name or bank details but everything else can be bought of the voters role anyway so who cares?
I know though that there are some people who are very tetchy about giving personal info out on the interweb. Can see their point after all you could effectively be anyone.

Make sure you opt out of the open voters register when registering to vote. Access is then limited and local authorit can’t sell it on. (Slightly sceptical though as they do say credit reference agencies have access so draw your own conclusions!)

 

[SparkyChick]

Just a quick thank you to all those that have commented so far. The staff are considering a few things, but for those who are considering signing up... sign up and get in there.

@Marvo has a sweet little brainteaser going at the mo, and I've got one coming up soon.