Letter to Students

Transparent Democracy
How it Works
How to Register
Regular Voting
Submitting New Placard
Debating Forums
Moderated Forum
Useful Hints

The vote filters above the leaderboard enable anyone to see the student voice in each school, electorate, state and for the whole country at a glance.

This is the "Main Board : Big Issues, All Opinions" forum. It's the most important forum in the poll menu because here you can vote or submit opinions on any issue – no waiting to be asked! It produces a live ranking of opinions on the big and emerging issues of the day, as perceived by students. 

How it Works

It’s like a free floating student “opinion market” – transparent, continuous, live and competitive.

Students set the agenda by submitting opinions and ideas, in the form of concise, “placards” directly into the online leaderboard. All opinion placards compete daily for votes from students across the country and are ranked live for all to see.

It’s a continuous polling technique that lets all students vote daily and submit new opinion placards any time. Voting results can be viewed in selected sample periods such as last 24 hours, three days, seven days and 30 days. Repeat votes by the same people are filtered automatically to show unique votes only in the selected sample period.

Each student is issued with a unique password. This means everyone knows the votes are real – political leaders, media groups, professional educators and the public will take notice.

How to Register

First, while in this “The Big Issues, All Opinions” forum click “Bookmark this Page” in the top menu. Next click the green “Register” link appearing near the top left corner. You will be prompted to invent a sign in name and password that you will remember. There is no need to use the password issued to you at this point. Complete the form, then click the “Submit” button.

 Regular Voting

After you register select the checkbox for up to ten placards that you support and THEN click the “Submit Vote” button. Note, the first time you vote you will be prompted to enter the unique password issued to you by the Student Parliament administrator at your school. You will not need this issued password again. To vote again you only need your invented sign-in name and password. Vote regularly but at most once a day. 

Submitting New Placards 

Click the “Submit New Opinion” button any time to float a new placard in the Leaderboard. But first use the keyword search to check if a suitable placard already exists. Submit clear opinions not questions. Be concise and creative. Try not to use more than 12 words. Placards that resonate with others will attract more votes and rise up the leaderboard. When submitting a new placard you will also be invited to add a more detailed comment, which can be left blank. The comment appears when the placard is clicked in the leaderboard. The comment also appears as the first posting in the attached debating forum – see heading below.

Use the School selector to see votes from your school. However there may be a ten-minute delay before new votes appear in the School selector.

Debating Forums

All placards have a dedicated discussion board or debating forum. Click the icon to the far right of any placard to see existing postings and to submit new postings any time. Your sign in and school name appear on any postings you submit. Avoid frivolous comments. Postings in the form of well composed, concise speeches with good arguments are encouraged.

Moderated Forum

The forum is moderated. There is a slight delay before new placards and forum postings are published. Occasionally editors may amend a placard particularly if the placard appears ambiguous or can be shortened. Do not submit placards or forum postings that attack anyone in the school community or other private citizens. Placards and forum postings considered, frivolous, defamatory, sexist, racist or inciting of violence will not be published.

Note: You are representing your school.  Votes and forum postings can be traced to your school.

Useful Hints

Vote period buttons

Use the vote period button above the leaderboard to view near or longer term voting.  The shorter term periods such as last 24 hours show the hot issues of the moment while the longer term periods such as last 30 days or last 90 days show the issues and opinions that persist through time. Note repeat votes are filtered automatically. Only one vote is counted for each person for each placard regardless of the duration of the term. Regular voting Regular voting ensures that your vote is counted in the most recent vote sample periods.

Vote reminders

As soon as you vote you will be invited to set a vote reminder.  The reminder sends an email with a link directly to the poll.

Forgotten Sign in or password

Next to the Sign in link (top left) notice the small “forgotten” link. Use it any time you forget your sign in name or password. However this feature can be used only if you have provided a valid email address. To check, update or enter your email address click "Members Area" in the top menu then "My Details".

Change your details

You can check or change any of your registration details any time. Start by clicking “Members Area” (top menu) then “My Details”. Also use this to change your sign in name or password and ensure your email is current.