The eLN website contains many features which can enrich your experience as an eLN member. The purpose of this guide is to alert you to some of the more interesting and useful features so they don't pass you by:

Along the top

Home: Returns you to the home page, which contains current news items, as well as providing access to the archive of older items. You can add your own comments to any item if you want. You can also suggest items to be included by emailing editor@elearningnetwork.org. If you want to set up an RSS feed so you are alerted of any news items, click on the orange RSS icon at the bottom of the right sidebar.

About: Tells you about eLN. You probably know this stuff already, which is why you joined.

Membership: Ditto.

Events: This is important, because this is where you find about the face-to-face and online eLN events planned for the current year. Click on any event title to see the latest information and to make an online booking.

Awards: Here's where you'll find out about The E-Learning Awards, including the categories and criteria for the current year's awards, as well as details of previous years' winners.

Forum: This is a really important part of the site, because here you can initiate new questions or discussions, or respond to those initiated by other members.

Marketplace: Here you can find details of the services, products and events provided by eLN members, as well as current job opportunities. If you are a full eLN member, you can easily create your own ads to include here.

Contact: Tells you how to get in touch with the eLN.

Down the left

My account: Here's where you maintain the information about yourself that other eLN members will find out what you're interested in and to make contact.

My groups: Groups provide a way for eLN members with special interests to communicate together. Under the My Groups tab, you'll find a listing of all those groups that you're currently a member of. Click on a group name to go to the group's page, where you can view and post group messages. Click on My Membership to select whether you want to receive email notifications of group postings. Click on the Groups tab to see a listing of all groups and to join new groups.

My subscriptions: You can choose to be alerted by email if changes or additions are made to particular types of content, such as forum postings, wiki pages or Marketplace ads. To cancel any current subscription, un-tick the relevant box and click on Save.

Member search: Allows you to search the membership list, but also member profiles and site content.

Member list: Does what it says on the tin.

My network: The friend system isn't working yet, but the ideas a good one and we'll get it up and running soon.

Invite a friend: Go on, spread the word. Just enter the email address and click 'Send invite'.

Down the right

Groups directory: Provides a listing of all current groups and allows you to join any group for which you are not currently a member.

Recent posts: Find out what's new on the site.

eLN Commitee: These are your representatives for the current year. All are volunteers and none receive a penny. If you're a full member, you can apply to join the committee for the next year. If we have more applicants than places, members will vote to decide who's in and who's out.

Blog feeds: Here you'll find the latest postings from a wide range of elearning blogs, including those maintained by members. Contact editor@elearningnetwork.org if you know of a blog that would interest members - yours perhaps?

Books: A list of elearning books recommended by members. You can leave comments on any books you've read. You can also purchase any of the titles through Amazon, which earns us a small commission.

Glossary: This is a pretty extensive cross-referenced listing of elearning terms. The glossary is actually a wiki, which means you can edit pages or add new ones.

Links: Provides access to a wide range of elearning-related to websites.

Polls: We've always got at least one of these running and they provide useful feedback on a wide range of issues. It takes about one second to vote, so you've no excuse for holding back.

What else?

We're working on a wholerange of new features, but the best ones are the ones that you've asked for specifically. If you have any ideas for the website, go to forums, where you'll find a thread called 'What would you like on this website' in the General Board.

So what are you waiting for? Get networking.