Program Builder Online

From earlier discussions about PBO, one of my key problems is that it only lets you build one meeting at a time. I would like to see the ability to add templates of program themes. These could be based on our existing Jumpstarts, etc.

If a month long (or longer) theme could be dropped into the calendar, then moved around or modified to suit, I think it would make planning a much easier process for leaders, particularly new ones. The youth could have input as to which theme to pick, then input as to the specific activities involved.

Longer themes could be provided at a Pack or Troop level to make sure that the youth cover off all the requirements to complete their stars or awards. This would go a long way to encourage groups to excel at the program standards.

Once the user inserted a month of activities, how about giving them the option to select an activity that may not be of interest to them and provide them with a list of possible substitutions. For a safety theme, we don't want the Cubs to go to the firehall, again. Instead we'll substitute in a visit to the local EMS.

Instead of relying on "Email this Progam", how about allowing other leaders from the same section to collaborate on the generation of the program? Perhaps the person who initiated the program will have to specify the MMS number of people who can login to collaborate.

How about allowing other users, from outside the given section, to view the program that has been developed? It could be an option, 'on' by default, that appears on the main edit screen. This would be a great way of sharing whole programs from successful groups to those who are struggling. What better way could we have of keeping our parents up-to-date with what's happening than allowing them (with their child's login?) access to the program calendar.

I see that access to PBO now can be obtained without MMS access and any user can now sign up. I think that's a good step.

Garth

I would really like to see collaboration. I like the concept of PBO, but am finding it limited compared to things like Google calendar and docs and Office Online.

Hello,

I appluad for Scouts Canada to help us leaders. This is a great start but what I need right away is a way for my entire group to be able to link to each others calendars. That way we can easily check what other sections are doing and try to plan for linking activities, which I know is a MUST for retention of the youth.

Here's what I suggest:
1. There should be a master calenadar, with things like Badden Powell Day, Rememberance day, etc
2. There should be a provincial calendar, with provincial details
3. There should be a group calendar
4. There should be a section calendar

So lets say I am a parent, I would go to my youth sections calendar and see what's hapening
Lets say I am a section leader, I should be able to:
1. edit my calendar
2. view other sections calendar and include them in my sections
3. view other groups calendar in my province, to be able to organize event between multiple groups
4. view all calendars as I may want to take my section on a visit to another province and link with other sections

So lets say I am a Group chair, I should be able to:

1. Edit the group calendar to inform all sections
2. View all calendars to be informed
3. Look for linking opportunities to sugesst for sections

With all of the calendars it would be ideal to have filters, for instance if a leader looks at the provincial calendar he would be insterested in Wood Badge training, however if a parent looks at the calendar they would not be interested.

This could be done now with Google calendars. We're trialling that this year at our group/section level. See:

Group version shows all sections + group: http://www.1stmerrickville.ca/group/calendar/
Beaver version: http://www.1stmerrickville.ca/beavers/calendar/
Cub version: http://www.1stmerrickville.ca/cubs/calendar/
Scout version: http://www.1stmerrickville.ca/scouts/calendar/
Venturer version: http://www.1stmerrickville.ca/venturers/calendar/

We datafilled a holiday/school layer to aid in planning.

The down arrow in the top right corner exposes a filtering menu. The URL to the calendar specifies the viewable layers in that view.


Allan.

Allan, that is very nice and is exactly what I meant, but I would like it as part of the Program Builder Online and here's why:

1. We need a harmonized calendar/system
2. Let Scouts Canada do the IT.
3. We need to work smarter not harder. Why have all leaders across Canada trying to work with websites/calendars/programs. We are wasting leaders time
4. If someone makes a great program another leader can cut and paste it into theirs.

I am just giving them some direction.

But thanks for your input Allan, hopefully someone will listen to the idea.

Based on what Scouts Canada created with MMS, the last thing we want is Scouts Canada in the IT business

I would not want them to try to intagrate google calendars into PBO as they would mess it up royaly.

It would be easy to intagrate google calendars into the area websites like you mentioned.

I applaud Program Builder Online.. one of the great activities I pulled off of it was called 'The Sharing Tree' and we integrate this every week in our program with a few modifications....

What I would like to see made available on it is
- a mechanism that allows other scouters to 'vote' or call it a favorite, which could then be used within the search mechanism to identify 'favorite' activities... Maybe this is not necessarily needed with less content .. But as we add more ideas, it would be great for the community to highlight the spectacular ones.

One of the objectives I've set myself is to add at least 2 of our activities to PBO this year in the spirit of sharing.

No doubt , me adding an activity, doesn't necessarily guarantee it making it to PBO ( there is presumably a moderator on the other end
But just imagine, if there are a 1000 Colony leaders out their who just added 2 activities , and 50% of these ideas were incorporated, we would double the current Colony content !!

If you look at the registration numbers , there must be over 4000 Beaver leaders given the 23000+ Beaver Scouts. The number of untapped ideas out there that are being used successfully in the local sections would definately enrich the program.