This month we are doubly delighted to unveil our new BSA website AND a new satellite site, Discover Sociology, that's specifically designed to promote and support pre-university sociology. We think these websites mark a bright new change for the BSA which reflects our outlook and the way we want to be perceived. With easy navigation, colourful images to illustrate and break up text and a whole range of resources for members across the learning journey, we think our new web presence will serve our discipline well. Now we are publicly promoting sociology in an accessible way, including to anyone coming to it for the first time. We hope you will agree.
Discover Sociology includes hundreds of teaching resources for secondary schools – each with ideas on how to use them in the classroom. Below are links to just three of the main resource topics on the site for you to take a peek:
Have a look and tell us what you think and remember Discover Sociology is specifically designed for schools and anyone newly curious about sociology!
Our new main website has 10 navigation tabs, designed to make things easier for you to find. The tabs are below if you want to try them out:
- HOME – A link back to the homepage
- ABOUT – A brief introduction to the BSA and all the latest news
- MEMBERSHIP – All you need to know about BSA membership
- EVENTS – Takes you straight to all the events run by the BSA
- PUBLICATIONS – A link to our journals, magazines and book series
- OPPORTUNITIES – Want to see what awards, funds, prizes and jobs are available? Then look here.
- GROUPS – A direct link to a list of all of our study groups and special interest groups
- MEDIA CENTRE – Here members of the press can find resources and news
- WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY? – A great link for anyone new to sociology
- RESOURCE LIBRARY – A quick link to the BSA archives of Network, conference programmes, etc.
We've grouped things under key headings. For example, all opportunities are under one navigational heading including our (predictably!) most popular page, the Jobs Board. You'll see that you can submit vacancies direct via the SUBMIT button on the page.
You’ll find lots of 'call to action' buttons across the main website which are designed to make it easy for you to see and find key information.
Two great new features of the main website are the searchable Resources Library and the introduction of microsites for each of our study and specialist groups. Group convenors will be shown how to update their microsites themselves or opt for the office staff to do content maintenance.
We're populating the website with new content every day and you can watch the resources growing and changing over time. If you don't see something you think we should have on our website, let us know. Also, we know we're not perfect and we'd really like to hear what you think, good and bad. Please send your comments to BSA IT Officer, Donna Willis.
Both sites have advertising space which will only be used for subject-specific material for example sociology courses, sociology course books, special events, etc. If you are interested in taking space, please contact Donna Willis.
The creation of these sites involved the input of many people, from member surveys to audience testing, staff and Trustees, technical and graphic professionals and content writers. We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who gave their time to these projects – you know who you are.
Thank you and we do hope you enjoy reading our sites!