Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Welcome to PlanetSEED , the new Web site for Schlumberger Excellence in Educational Development!

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about our new site and the transition from our old site to this one. Please contact us at admin@planetseed.com if you have further questions or concerns.

1. Why is SEED moving from www.seed.slb.com to www.PLANETSEED.com?
2. Once launched, what will happen to www.seed.slb.com? Will the old Web site disappear?
3. If I have bookmarked a page on the old Web site, how do I find it on PlanetSEED?
4. What changes will I see from the old Web site to PlanetSEED?
5. Who can register as a SEED volunteer? How do I do it?
   
   1. What features are available to volunteers? Is there a user guide to help them get started?
   2. How often should volunteers log on to PlanetSEED?
6. How will the move to the new URL affect the volunteer account that I created on the previous version of the SEED Web site?
   
   1. What happens if I did not receive this email?
   2. How long do I have to reactivate and update my account?
   3. What happens if I want to close my volunteer account?
   4. Can I re-open my account after closing it?
7. Who can register as a SEED teacher? How do I do it?
   
   1. What features are available to teachers? Is there a user guide to help them get started?
   2. How often should teachers log on?
8. Who can register as a SEED student? How do I do it?
   
   1. What features are available to students? Is there a user guide to help them get started?
   2. How often should students log on to PlanetSEED?
   3. What safety features address the needs of students?
9. What if I forget my password?
10. Are the features of PlanetSEED available in languages other than English?
11. Where can users get help for problems with the Web site?
12. How will the SEED use the personal information I disclose and ensure the safeguarding of my privacy?
13. There is a lot of user-posted commentary on the site. How do I report inappropriate or offensive content?
14. How do I get started?

1. Why is SEED moving from www.seed.slb.com to www.PLANETSEED.com?
   We wanted our volunteers, teachers, and students to connect with each other directly, through our Web site, and we also wanted to move to an open-source platform that would provide more flexible and robust tools to build these communities.
2. Once launched, what will happen to www.seed.slb.com? Will the old Web site disappear?
   The old Web site will no longer be accessible. Visitors who try to reach SEED through the old URL will automatically be redirected to our new Web site.
3. If I have bookmarked a page on the old Web site, how do I find it on PlanetSEED?
   Any pages that were bookmarked on the old Web site will automatically redirect to the same page on the new Web site. Once you reach a page through the automatic redirect, we recommend that you update your bookmarks to reflect the new URL.
4. What changes will I see from the old Web site to PlanetSEED?
   All of the existing feature articles, math puzzles, science labs, animations, Voices articles, and other content will remain the same. The big difference in the new Web site is the existence of communities that will enrich the relationship between volunteers, teachers, students, and SEED friends around the world. PlanetSEED allows more communication and collaboration between coordinators and their local constituents. The new site also provides space for collaboration features such as forums, blogs, polls, and project spaces. Any user (volunteer, teacher, student, or friend) may participate in these interactive programs after registering.
5. Who can register as a SEED volunteer? How do I do it?
   All members of the Schlumberger family, including employees, contractors, consultants, alumni and their spouses, parents, and children may register as volunteers. There is no volunteering time requirement once you join, and we will never request any donation or payment as contribution.

   Volunteers may request a new account by clicking on the Login/Join tab and submitting the required information to SEED. Your request for membership will be subject to approval by the SEED volunteer center administrator.

   1. What features are available to volunteers? Is there a user guide to help them get started?
      Once a volunteer is an approved member of the community, volunteers can browse and register for events and opportunities, share volunteering stories on their own personal blog, meet and friend other volunteers and teachers, refer friends to the Web site, and more.

      There is a first day guide to being a volunteer that is available on the volunteer center home page.

      Volunteers and all other users may also utilize the many free resources available on the SEED online science center (under the Science tab). SEED provides thousands of pages of science labs, articles, journals, and activities in seven languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

   2. How often should volunteers log on to PlanetSEED?
      There is no time requirement or limit to your participation. Volunteers are encouraged to log onto PlanetSEED periodically in order to update profile information and utilize the many interactive resources available to registered users. If you are interested in participating in a SEED activity, you should log on more frequently to find opportunities that suit your interests.
6. How will the move to the new URL affect the volunteer account that I created on the previous version of the SEED Web site?
   All existing volunteer records have been migrated to our new Web site. Active volunteers will need to log into their PlanetSEED accounts to update their passwords. While there, they are encouraged to add further details to their extended volunteer profiles, browse the site’s new features, and connect with other volunteers, teachers, and friends. Volunteers can also begin searching for volunteering opportunities in their region and around the world.

   All volunteers should have received an account reactivation email with instructions on how to log into their PlanetSEED accounts.

   1. What happens if I did not receive this email?
      Contact SEED at admin@planetseed.com to request a new account reactivation email.
   2. How long do I have to reactivate and update my account?
      There is no time limit.
   3. What happens if I want to close my volunteer account?
      Contact SEED at admin@planetseed.com to request the closing of your account.
   4. Can I re-open my account after closing it?
      Yes. Contact SEED at admin@planetseed.com to request the re-opening of your account.
7. Who can register as a SEED teacher? How do I do it?
   Any teacher, mentor, trainer, home school instructor, learning instructor, or other person that considers him or herself to be a teacher, may register as a teacher. SEED will ask you to list your school or educational institution when registering as a SEED teacher.

   Teachers may request a new account by clicking on the Login/Join tab and submitting the required information to SEED. Your request for membership will be subject to approval by the SEED teacher center administrator.

   1. What features are available to teachers? Is there a user guide to help them get started?
      Once a teacher is an approved member of the community, teachers can browse events, share teaching stories on their own personal blog, meet and friend other teachers and volunteers, refer friends to the Web site, and more. You can access all of these resources and more from the teacher center home page.

      Teachers and all other users may also utilize the many free resources available on the SEED online science center (under the Science tab). SEED provides thousands of pages of science labs, articles, journals, and activities in seven languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

   2. How often should teachers log on?
      There is no time requirement or limit to your participation. Teachers are encouraged to log onto PlanetSEED periodically in order to update profile information and utilize the many interactive resources available to registered users. If you are interested in participating in a SEED activity or collaborating with other teachers in the project space, you should log on more frequently to find activities that suit your interests.
8. Who can register as a SEED student? How do I do it?
   All students between the age of 10 and 18 can register upon referral by his or her teacher. There is no time requirement once you join, and we will never request any donation or payment as contribution.

   Students may request a new account by clicking on the Login/Join tab and submitting the required information to SEED. During your registration, you will be asked to select a teacher to sponsor your registration. This should be someone who knows you and can verify who you are. Your registration request will need to be first validated by the teacher whom you selected, and then approved by the SEED administrator.

   1. What features are available to students? Is there a user guide to help them get started?
      Once a student is an approved member of the community, they can browse and register for events and opportunities, share stories on their own personal blog, meet and friend other members of the SEED community, refer friends to the Web site, and more.

      Students and all other users may also utilize the many free resources available on the SEED online science center (under the Science tab). SEED provides thousands of pages of science labs, articles, journals, and activities in seven languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

   2. How often should students log on to PlanetSEED?
      There is no time requirement or limit to your participation. Students are encouraged to log onto PlanetSEED periodically in order to update profile information and utilize the many interactive resources available to registered users. If you are interested in participating in a SEED activity, you should log on more frequently to find opportunities that suit your interests.
   3. What safety features address the needs of students?
      SEED considers data protection and the safety of its members to be top priorities. We have taken a number of measures to ensure a safe and comfortable online environment for everyone, especially minors.

      No student registration will be approved without the validation from a registered teacher and the final approval from the site administrator. Every registration to the SEED Web site is verified and approved. Every user post on the SEED Web site is verified and approved.

      Upon registration, all students should review the student etiquette document that is posted on the Web site. This document advises students on appropriate behavior within the community, and also advises them on how to handle any inappropriate actions directed upon them.

      Should any student be concerned about his or her own data protection, please contact the SEED student administrator at students@planetseed.com.

9. What if I forget my password?
   Members of any SEED community (volunteer, teachers, student, or friend) may request a new password to be automatically sent to them by clicking on the Request new password link on the main login page.
10. Are the features of PlanetSEED available in languages other than English?
    Our new Web site is designed to support resources in the seven languages of SEED: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

    Please note that SEED does not offer a translations function to support multi-lingual communications between users of different languages at this time. For correspondence and other communications, we encourage users to post statements in their own preferred language, or to use the Google Translations tool.

11. Where can users get help for problems with the Web site?
    Users may contact SEED at admin@planetseed.com at any time to request assistance. We will connect you with the right administrator to attend to your needs.
12. How will the SEED use the personal information I disclose and ensure the safeguarding of my privacy?
    Protecting your privacy is important to SEED. The Schlumberger-SEED Data Privacy statement can help you understand how SEED collects, uses, and safeguards the personal information that you choose to disclose on our Web site.
13. There is a lot of user-posted commentary on the site. How do I report inappropriate or offensive content?
    All content submitted to PlanetSEED forums, blogs, and project spaces is reviewed by a site moderator.

    Inappropriate content includes offensive language, hurtful comments, and any other offensive content found within our site etiquette guidelines. Should you find any inappropriate comments or images, or should you wish to discuss any concerns found on our Web site, please send an email to admin@planetseed.com.

14. How do I get started?
    Find your community (volunteer, teacher, student, or friend) and register. We have videos that can walk you through the process. These videos also explain what is available in your community.