Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is this place and how did I get here?
2. Does it cost anything to join (I’m broke)?
3. I’m here, so now what do I do?
4. How do I contribute content?
5. Does Edvantage Interactive own the material I put on here?
6. Can I be anonymous?
7. Who is Edvantage Interactive?
8. Where can I learn more about Edvantage Interactive resources?
9. How long will this community exist?
10. Are there other communities I can join?
11. Can you show me how to get started?


1. What is this place and how did I get here?
BC Science Interactions is a free online community for teachers. It’s free to join, and free to be a member. The community is built on a platform called Ning, which is specially designed to host online communities. The teachers on the network are here to participate in discussions, exchange resources such as videos and good website links, and connect with each other about all things science related. We’re all here to network, collaborate, and share.
You may have received an invitation from a friend (you can do that!). You may have found us through another site (like Twitter, which we love. You can follow us if you like.). Whatever your method of arrival, we’re awfully glad you’re here. And so is our network of educators, who are eager to connect with you.
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2. Does it cost anything to join (I’m broke)?
Nope. It’s free. We don’t even accept Monopoly money.
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3. I’m here, so now what do I do?
If you haven’t participated in a social network before, you might enjoy this Common Craft video on social networking. If you’re still feeling nervous, you can contact our Community Manager for tips, tricks, and moral support. The best way to get wet is to jump in and explore the site. You can’t get lost, and nobody will yell at you. Here are some things you might want to check out first. These tabs run across the top of the site:
- The Resource tab includes videos, website links, podcasts, and other content that teachers have shared. This is like an archive, or a library, of what our community thinks is cool. You can use these resources in the classroom. Got anything to add?
- The members (network) tab lets you see who else is here. Anyone you know?
- MyPage is your own profile within the site. People can visit it to learn about you, or to see what you’ve been up to. Some people choose a photo that reflects their appearance, their interests or their loved ones. And some are just okay being The Ogopogo.
- The Collaborate tab features resources in development, from Edvantage Interactive. You can preview Edvantage Interactive resources and contribute to the development of classroom resources.
- The Forum features discussions. You can start one, or join one.
- From time to time, we hold community events. Visiting Events will give you a calendar of upcoming conferences, online meetings, and other activities that may be of interest. If you have an event to promote (sorry, no keg parties), simply contact Jimmy and we’ll help you get the word out.
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4. How do I contribute content?
Wherever there is an opportunity to post content (video, links etc) you will see a link at the top of the page inviting you to add a video, add a discussion, etc. Click on this link and you will be prompted to select a file from your computer, type in a text box or add a link from a site you like.
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5. Does Edvantage Interactive own the material I put on here?
No. Edvantage Interactive employs its own team of authors and contributors. That being said, if you’ve got some talent, we should probably know about you.
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6. Can I be anonymous?
If you’d rather not participate as yourself, that’s up to you. We believe that honest, authentic interactions bring value to the community, so we do encourage our members to connect with each other. You can always send a private message using your inbox, if you’re still feeling shy.
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7. Who is Edvantage Interactive?
EI is a new Canadian publishing company. You can find out more about us here.
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8. Where can I learn more about Edvantage Interactive resources?
You can learn more about Edvantage Interactive resources on the community website, so stay tuned! Periodically, we invite members of the community to collaborate with the Edvantage Interactive team in the development of new resources.
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9. How long will this community exist?
As long as our members continue to share and connect, the community will remain open, free, and continue to grow.
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10. Are there other communities I can join?
Yes. Here are the links: Some other communities our members recommend: www.classroom20.com
www.edutopia.com
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11. Can you show me how to get started?
Sure! Visit the BC science Interactions Help! page for a few how-to videos to help you get started. Jimmy will show you how to post a discussion, change your profile picture, upload a video, and more.
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Welcome. We’re glad you’re here. If you have questions that remain unanswered, or concerns you’d like us to address, please drop us a line.