Learning about Drupal for the Online Community

Using Drupal, published by O’Reilly Media, has arrived today from Amazon, and I have started reading up on how to use this open source content management system.

It is always useful to understand how the technology behind your online community works.

As well as enabling you to fix minor technical problems, it will also give you an understanding of what can be done with your community.

What does the platform you plan to use or are using support?

Having also read O’Reilly Media’s HTML and XHTML Pocket Reference and CSS Pocket Reference, I stronly recommend their textbooks.

Selecting tools to build an online community

We have been considering what tools to use for the online community.

So far, we have been looking at Drupal and Typo3 as the best content management systems.

Both offer a wide variety of plugins, including the ability to have a discussion forum and a document library. We also want to host a variety of webinars and interactive training courses.

For the webinar, we will be trialling Gotomeeting’s GoToWebinar option.

Selecting tools:

When selecting tools, it is important to us that they are open source and that we are able to train our members and stakeholders on how to use these tools.

It is also important that contributed content does not just come from ISEAL Alliance staff, but from those who we inform as well.

Our members and stakeholders have a wealth of experience to share with each other and ISEAL.

Indeed, many stakeholders have been helpful in meeting with us both in person and via Skype to explain their experiences with possible tools we are considering.

The landing page for the online community should also be welcoming and informative about the work that ISEAL does, without distracting the reader with too much information.

We are considering having a slideshow for the landing page showcasing ISEAL’s work, using slideshare.

What tools would you recommend for use in an online community? Have you been involved with planning or building an online community?

Why not give your view in the comments?