A+Wiki+odyssey

As part of our e-cology project we are developing a Wiki for our whole College at Randwick.

There are a number of issues that we are trying to address:
 * Encouraging more e-learning use by our teaching staff
 * Supporting the development of e-learning skills in those that are interested but tentative by providing mentoring by local champions
 * Developing a vehicle for dynamic support and dialogue for and about e-learning
 * Developing skills in what we have called "high return" technology - where a teacher can move to e-learning with a relatively short learning curve and great initial results
 * Using wikis as test platforms for further development of this technology at Sydney Institute of TAFE
 * Developing the wiki as a mode of delivery for e-learning

=The story so far...................=

May 2007
We have our wiki up and running nicely with its corporate branding, using MediaWiki as a platform. Many thanks to Stephan Ridgway and Ian Hayes who have done all the technical work to make it fly. Initially it was set up without a WYSIWYG editor as default. Although the code is relatively simple for those familiar with HTML etc we want the use of the wiki to be as transparent as possible to the user (teachers) so that they can get on with education rather than focus on technical issues. We have had the WYSIWYG editor set as the default.

June 2007
Intial work has shown a small error with uploading files but this was quickly rectified by our ever vigilant Ian Hayes, tech support. We have a couple of home page titles developed (branding) for consideration and some support pages taking shape. We have now gone a little further. While the MediaWiki implementation is internal, we have now just set up an external Wiki for student access using Wikispaces. We have called this [|RandWiki]. As of 20 June it only has its title but we will be working on content as part of the project. This allows us to evaluate two types of platform and separate internal material from delivery material. We are hoping that staff will be able to adapt to the slight changes between the two platforms. With our eBazaar and work on a current wiki it appears that there would be some staff resistance to the use of two separate Wiki platforms. We are going to investigate the use of open and private space within a Wikispace environment so that we can support staff and students with the same interface.

July 2007
Well a lot has changed since last month. Discussion with teachers has suggested that there is a lot of interest in the Wiki but that the change between platforms between internal and external Wikis will be seen as a barrier by those on the edge of involvement. We have taken the step to create a private internal Wiki for staff that is on a Wikispaces platform so that there is minimal challenge when moving between this and the external Wiki. We used an Adobe Connect conference to discuss structuring the Wiki so that we could get convenient input from a number of those involved. The structure is being put in place and we hope to have a fully operational internal and external Wiki site ready for learning activities this semester. As at 17th July we have two operational wikispaces and more to come. We have a lot of enthusiasm across our Institute for Wikis and our college site is generating a lot of issues already that will feed into further use of this platform. In particular there is the question of websites vs wikis, the issue of members and permissions and the amount of control v anarchy/vandalism. All interesting discussions and issues that we want to resolve for the best educational outcomes.

August 2007
Our operational Wiki structure has become an ad hoc template for consistency of wiki development across our TAFE Institute. The overall wikispace presented to our Head Teachers resulted in a request for a more detailed presentation which will be made early in September. Not only our educators but also our Student Association and Administrative staff are getting excited about the wiki potential. BUT: we have realised that managing a wiki throws up a number of issues about access and control.

I was on leave during this period but it was mostly focussed on mentoring to get people started with skills to use the wiki. Very little progress on the wiki was made in this month
 * September 2007**

My return to work in October and a week or so of discussions was a little disheartening. The keen ones had got something moving but in all very little more had been added since August. Mid October and what a change! Suddenly everyone wants a wikispace, some training or has provided me with an opportunity to promote the ideas. Like the experienced teacher who was using older technology and who mentioned in passing what a help it was. This gave me a chance to mention the potential in the wiki and this teacher was then determined to try 'something new' as it sounded so good! So - don't give up on the e-learning as I have seen the momentum suddenly build and I think we can keep this going.
 * October 2007**

More interest in the wiki and training in the pre-vocational areas. We have had technical trouble where our wiki has been sporadically targetted by blocking software that has been told to leave it alone. Predictably, when the people are happy you then get technical problems. At this stage we have gone from a bare wiki for the college having nothing but and introductory framework to a series of pages and spaces that include: Languages, Adult Basic Education, Carpentry and Joinery, Dental Studies, Health and Recreation, Student Association, Prevocational and Equity areas (all in various stages of development but that is the nature of teaching and elearning) We also are in the throes of discussing what I called Terms of Use for the wikispace. In the original implementation of the wiki frame work I included some plain English statements about the expected use of the wiki by students and staff. Most of it is about dealing reasonably with each other, avoiding plagiarism and giving credit and some hints about online safety. Linking these thoughts to TAFE policy means that the intent of policy is served without the need for students to get bogged down in lots of text. Sydney Institute has been using these terms of use as a basis for developing a similar statement for all wikis in any of our colleges.
 * November 2007**

My last report to be completed just before Santa arrives!
 * December**

//**Brian McLauchlan Project Facilitator

back to e-cology home**//