Potentially HUGE News

Some of you may have seen this article in TechCrunch today, announcing layoffs at Ning. Ning is the company that runs the platform on which the Global Education Collaborative exists. Ning has also stated that they are going to stop allowing free networks.

This change has huge implications for the Global Education Collaborative. We are currently a free network and we also are exempt from advertisements as Ning previously took ads off for education networks that included students. The impact of this announcement is not fully known yet; Ning says that they will have a plan in place within the next two weeks.

As you may know, I maintain and monitor this site without any compensation and I'd like this space to remain devoid of advertising. I promise that I will do whatever I can to keep our community open and accessible to all.

If you have any ideas on alternative platforms or for fundraising, please send me a message through the GEC ning, an email (elemenous@gmail.com) or reply to this thread. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Please also consider dropping a note to Ning to let them know your thoughts as well:

pr@ning.com

Thanks for your continued support,

This is all great! Thanks, David Simpson, for this list.

I find myself worried by a couple of things, though. Except for Elgg, which has a certain degree of fame in the educational community, these companies are relatively unknown. Remember that to start one of these networks takes tons of capital, and then a long lead time before ad revenues pay the bills. Ning did a lot of things right, and had some really bright people. If even THEY have trouble sustaining this business model, does it make sense to place our faith in Yolu or LovdbyLess? (I know nothing about these platforms; I'm just citing them as examples.)

I'm just saying that in evaluating other social network platforms for educators, let's examine the long-term viability of the companies behind them. Are they capitalized for the long haul? Otherwise we might find ourselves back in this discussion a few months from now after another one bites the dust.

Replies

Merry Merryfield April 19, 2010 at 6:31pm

Have you considered Yahoo forums? They are relatively easy to set up and free as far as i know.

I belong to several Yahoo forums (for basenjis and abysinnians) and they work well.

Merry
merryfield.1@osu.edu
David Simpson April 16, 2010 at 12:21pm

Thanks for the "heads up/" here is my first attempt to identify alternative platforms
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/no_free_lunch_for_ning_users.php
- Sarah Mendel > David Simpson April 16, 2010 at 12:49pm
  
  This is all great! Thanks, David Simpson, for this list.
  
  I find myself worried by a couple of things, though. Except for Elgg, which has a certain degree of fame in the educational community, these companies are relatively unknown. Remember that to start one of these networks takes tons of capital, and then a long lead time before ad revenues pay the bills. Ning did a lot of things right, and had some really bright people. If even THEY have trouble sustaining this business model, does it make sense to place our faith in Yolu or LovdbyLess? (I know nothing about these platforms; I'm just citing them as examples.)
  
  I'm just saying that in evaluating other social network platforms for educators, let's examine the long-term viability of the companies behind them. Are they capitalized for the long haul? Otherwise we might find ourselves back in this discussion a few months from now after another one bites the dust.
  - David Simpson > Sarah Mendel April 17, 2010 at 12:54pm
    
    Here are some more options to explore. I haven't had a chance to vet them.
    http://janeknight.typepad.com/pick/2010/04/115-social-networking-an...
    
    _David
  - David Simpson > Sarah Mendel April 16, 2010 at 1:01pm
    
    We are in total agreement, Sarah. Jane Hart is a promoter of Elgg.
    I think the best route right now is to find a grant or angel.
Gina Difino April 16, 2010 at 8:01am

Hey Lucy, et. al.,

Larry Ferlazzo has a massive list of alternatives to Ning. I don't know if they've been vetted, but we are checking them out as we go at VIF International Education, as we use Ning with our schools.

If anyone has feedback about any of them, it would benefit us all!

Ciao,
gina difino
- Co-Chair
  
  Lucy Gray > Gina Difino April 16, 2010 at 8:59am
  
  This is a huge help! Thanks! I love how everyone is pooling resources. Ning probably didn't anticipate this reaction.
Co-Chair

Lucy Gray April 15, 2010 at 9:09pm

Let's share how we are using Nings in the non-profit/education world. Also, let's brainstorm ideas on how to develop a reasonable business model for educator and non-profit use. Also, share where you would take your network in a worst case scenario! I've created a survey for us to gather our thoughts.

Survey can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/ningsfornonprofits
Results can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/ningsfornonprofitsresults
Tim Bray April 15, 2010 at 6:27pm

Lucy,

This is terrible news, but can we work with Ning to come to a mutual arrangement that works for them and us. I'm not opposed to doing some fund raising to help keep the sight up, if they need us to pay, but can they continue to keep ads off of the our area? I think we need to wait and see what plan they come up with before we get to worried.

Take care,
Tim
- Co-Chair
  
  Lucy Gray > Tim Bray April 15, 2010 at 6:38pm
  
  Yes, I agree that we shouldn't completely panic. However, the principle of this sudden move really bothers me. It's one thing to announce a change and provide some options at the same time; it's another to announce that all free services are stopping and NOT provide any further information. It's very troubling that the good work of people done on a volunteer basis will be at least interrupted because they didn't think through their business plan from the get go. I tend to agree with Richard above.
  
  I'm not opposed to paying for something that's worthwhile and trustworthy.... I really have mixed feelings about this right now.
  
  Lucy

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