After much deliberation, we've decided to end the community moderators program. It's been a great run - with lots of helpful contributions from everyone who has participated. We're working on a new program that will allow Scratchers to contribute to the community in lots of different ways. We’ll provide more details in a future post.

Don't worry - the Scratch website will still be moderated. We have a team of paid (adult) website moderators helping keep an eye on things.

We decided to retire the community moderators program because we want to create a new role with a different focus – less on moderation, and more on helping Scratchers make awesome stuff (both with “Scratch the programming tool” and in “Scratch the community”). As some have already seen from the discussion forum pull down menus, part of the program will be called “Scratch Mentors.” We're working on co-creating it with the first cohort of Scratch mentors now. Part of their role will be focused on supporting other ways for Scratchers to contribute to the community (i.e. helping Scratchers get un-stuck when working on challenging projects, or helping maintain and improve Scratch design studios, for example. ) Becoming a community moderator was a way for a few Scratchers to contribute to Scratch and the Scratch community. Soon there will be many more ways for Scratchers to help out - which is something that Scratchers have told us they want for a very long time.

So Sparks and Harakou will be remaining as active community moderators for a while longer while we figure out the next program. After years of great contributions, JSO, myredneptune, coolstuff, Lucario621, and Scimonster are retiring. nXIII, who joined the community moderators after giving us tons of help preparing these forums for Scratch 2.0, is also retiring. We're super grateful for all their contributions! If you haven't thanked them lately, now's a great time to say so in a comment on their profile, or in a post on this thread!

So thanks to all the volunteer community moderators for giving so much to the Scratch community in so many different ways!

Scratch On!
Amos
on behalf of the Scratch Team

Just wondering, how does one become a “Scratch Mentor”?

jvvg wrote:

Just wondering, how does one become a “Scratch Mentor”?

By invitation. However, the related program - “Scratch Helpers” - will be designed to be opt in. Basically, anyone who wants to volunteer will be able to help out in one of many different ways.

Sounds awesome and I'm so excited! Can't wait!

turkey3_test wrote:

Sounds awesome and I'm so excited! Can't wait!

And not trying to be pushy (I'm actually pretty patient), but when do you plan to finish this thing? You guys must be really busy with:

-updating paint editor
-website speed and bugs
-pixelbender lag
-html5 player (well, that is quite far away)
-moderation

Let me just take this time to say thank you!
(And by the way Lightnin: I still cannot view any forum page on my main account but can on this)

I just noticed: you misspelled nXIII's username in the topic post.

Best of luck with the new program! I enjoyed moderating.

scimonster wrote:

I just noticed: you misspelled nXIII's username in the topic post.

Ah, thanks! Got it.

It's a bit forlorn seeing that most community moderators just lost their memorable position, especially considering all that they've given, though in the end, it's all good since there's a new way that Scratchers can give back, and more people can join! I was actually hoping to become a community moderator once the next elections started, but this I feel is better in the end, especially considering Scratch's goal is teaching, not moderating.

By the way, I have a quick question. Above, when you replied to jvvg, you said that you could opt into Scratch Helpers. Is “Scratch Mentor” given right away to them, or are they more like experienced helpers?
Edit: With a bit of digging, I figured out the answer, or that the title isn't given straight away.

With questions,

ErnieParke

Lightnin wrote:

As some have already seen from the discussion forum pull down menus, part of the program will be called “Scratch Mentors.”

hi there! I feel like I accomplished something.

I wanna be a mentor I wanna be a mentor I wanna be a mentor I wanna be a mentor I wanna be a mentor I wanna be a mentor I wanna be a mentor I wanna be a mentor I wanna be a mentor Whoops, you didn't see that

ErnieParke wrote:

It's a bit forlorn seeing that most community moderators just lost their memorable position, especially considering all that they've given, though in the end, it's all good since there's a new way that Scratchers can give back, and more people can join! I was actually hoping to become a community moderator once the next elections started, but this I feel is better in the end, especially considering Scratch's goal is teaching, not moderating. So this is another good step forward by the ST. ;)

By the way, I have a quick question. Above, when you replied to jvvg, you said that you could opt into Scratch Helpers. Is “Scratch Mentor” given right away to them, or are they more like experienced helpers?

With questions,

ErnieParke

Oh, wait, so your inferring that instead of saying “Scratcher” at each of our posts it will say “Scratch Mentor” for some chosen people? So a new rank?

Well, I'm glad to have gotten the opportunity to be a community moderator! Although I may have not had the biggest impact by any means, I hope I was able to help and leave a positive impression… I look forward to seeing how the Scratch Helper/Mentor program works out as well.

Thanks to all the community moderators for their work with the Scratch site! You guys were awesome.

EDIT: Also, what happens to the SDS team now (just noticed a phrase in the title post that mentioned Scratch Mentors would be helping to maintain Design Studios)?

Thanks mods! And I'm looking forward to seeing how the mentors program works. I love the idea—it will let many more experienced Scratchers help out in great ways. Scratch on!

Out of curiosity, who are the paid adult mods? Just teh ST, or do you have undercover spies lurking amongst us?

technoboy10 wrote:

EDIT: Also, what happens to the SDS team now (just noticed a phrase in the title post that mentioned Scratch Mentors would be helping to maintain Design Studios)?

SDS will run as it is, just that Mentors will be able to confer with the ST on improving various features of Scratch, like the SDS.

Simple,

ErnieParke

Hardmath123 wrote:

Thanks mods! And I'm looking forward to seeing how the mentors program works. I love the idea—it will let many more experienced Scratchers help out in great ways. Scratch on!

Out of curiosity, who are the paid adult mods? Just teh ST, or do you have undercover spies lurking amongst us?

well if I were running the site I know I'd have undercover spies doing the job (being completely serious)

Aww, I'd always wanted to be a Community Moderator.

I'd be interested in knowing what kind of training the new adult community moderators would receive?

Yeah, And What Is Their Scratch Username?

Hardmath123 wrote:

Thanks mods! And I'm looking forward to seeing how the mentors program works. I love the idea—it will let many more experienced Scratchers help out in great ways. Scratch on!

Out of curiosity, who are the paid adult mods? Just teh ST, or do you have undercover spies lurking amongst us?

I know Paddle, cheddar, and fullmoon (who inconspicuously disappeared from the list of mods). I think scmb1 too, and probably some more. In other words, the ST.

Thank you, moderators! You've contributed so much to the site it's sad to see you go!

I think this Scratch Mentor thing will be a success! I can't wait to try it! Keep up the great work, ST!