Sylvia Currie

Sandy referred to the next phase as "Ready to Write" so I thought I would carry that over here.

So, let's see how we should proceed...

Sharing drafts and getting feedback:

Option 1: Share drafts of chapter/sections by MS Word attachments and we use the editing/comments tool to provide feedback.

Option 2: Use a tool like writely.com to write. The 4 of us (June, Liz, Sandra, Sylvia) will have editing access so we can write and make suggestions on an ongoing basis. There are options to compare revisions, see who made the changes, and revert to earlier versions.

Option 3: Upload draft sections to Quick Doc review. This tool allows others to comment on drafts (rather than edit the draft)  http://quicktopic.com/documentcollaboration

Tentative Timeline

May 15 - Draft containing at minium introductory paragraphs and main points for each section available for project mayors to review for overlap

June 15 - Chapter image map (Did you know about this? I'll do it) ready for feedback. Next draft available for feedback

July 15 - Next draft available for feedback

August 1 -  Draft completed and submitted to Book Project editors

Sharing References and preparing bibliography

I started a thread for sharing references here http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=134 I was alarmed when I went back to it and say I had only added one book! I do have more good ones to add, honest. If during your writing you would like me to do any research just let me know.

Also, I use Endnote for organizing references when I write (makes the bibliography output a snap). I'd be happy to keep track of our references so you don't have to mess with formatting. You may have your own methods which is fine. Whatever works.

This message was posted by Chris Kimble to the Online Facilitation list recently. It looks like it will be an interesting book! Is anyone here planning to submit a chapter proposal?

====snip====
Dear all,
I hope that this call for chapters is of some interest to the members
of this group.

------------------------------------

Communities of Practice: Creating Learning Environments for Educators
- Call for Chapters

This call for chapters is for a forthcoming book by Chris Kimble and
Paul Hildreth, "Communities of Practice: Creating Learning
Environments for Educators" which is to be published in 2007 by
Information Age Publishing Inc.  Details of the book and a full
version of the call for chapters can be found at:

http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/mis/CLEE/Call_for_Chapters.html

The aim of the book is to bring together the expertise of people who
have worked with Communities of Practice (CoPs) in authentic
educational settings across the world in a convenient, internationally
based, workbook for people in the field of training and education.  It
is anticipated that this book will act as a resource for practitioners
and academics that work in the field of CoPs and education.

Prospective authors are invited to send a 500-word outline of their
chapter, by e-mail (Word document or plain text), to Chris Kimble
<kimble@cs.york.ac.uk> by May 26, 2006.  The outline should clearly
explain the content of the proposed chapter and suggest a theme and
section under which it might appear in the final book.

Paul started us off with some serious homework! :-) I've decided to go back to some of my first experiences with collaborative learning as an online student and I'm working on a description. This is taking me back 10 years so it's a real test of my memory!

One thing I've noticed over the years is that the word "collaboration" is tossed around quite casually. I remember in a workshop on active learning strategies an instructor described collaboration in her online course design like this:


This is a problem! Have others encountered this? Maybe we should take some time to work through what collaboration is, and what it isn't.

I'm copying over a request from Sandy Hirtz. She is hoping to organize a webcast for each chapter. So far it's in my mind, but I haven't figured out a good format/purpose for a webcast. Some ideas might emerge once the writing starts, so here's the beginning of a thread for us to post ideas.

===snip from Book Group list Feb 16, 2006 3:53 PM===
Beginning March 31st, we would like to advertise online Webcast Discussions relating to each chapter.  It is hoped that each Chapter Mayor(s ) will moderate an informal chat regarding the content of their chapter.  This can be a sharing session, an informal Q&A, a chance to interview guest speakers etc. etc.  Please keep this in mind and let me know when you would be willing to moderate an online webcast.  Think creative and fun and informal.
===snip from Book Group list Feb 16, 2006 3:53 PM===

First of all, you may have noticed that chapter 3 has become chapter 4! No problem, our chapter title remains the same: Online Course Design.

The sections outlined for our chapter can be changed, moved around, reworked, etc. Someone was asking about where different steps to design might fit in (i.e. analysis, design, develop, implement, evaluation, to name one method). Good question!

In reviewing this chapter outline, do you see any changes we should make?

• Designing your course
  
• User friendliness (colour, layout)
  
• Modules and organization
• Course objectives
• Teaching styles
• Learning styles
• Lesson presentation
• Target audience
• Linear versus non-linear design
• Consistency and structure