You've raised some very good points. My comments are in the the text of your message below..I.'m looking forward to other input as well.
Bill
On 5/23/07, CHRISTIANSON Mark <markc@icu.ac.jp> wrote:
My understanding is that individual actions will be required, specifically using the Goffice 'homepage' and calendar system at a minimum. Possibly getting a new email account as well.
My sense of this is the list of activities in the draft that we identified and want to promote and support.
Support C3 (connectivity, communication and collaboration) and the list of activities.
The answer to this is infinite (and getting infiniter). That's why we should start with something very basic, but something that can be expanded and scaled, as Owen has pointed out.
How to use the new Goffice account log in and calendar system is what I think we are proposing as a minimum. However, this is just a push in what we hope will be the right direction. If people 'survive' this, they will hopefully be encouraged to go beyond and try other new things.
This is a point well taken. My intent was not to alarm, but to show relevance for our proposal. I agree that we shouldn't try to alarm or shock people into acceptance of our proposals. On the other hand, I think we should provide our 'take' on what is developing and why it is important to us now and in the future.
It's a good approach. I was just trying to adopt a consistent format for all three reports. I'll wait to hear how others feel.
I think it would be a mistake to try to answer all the possible questions in the text of the document. I am anticipating a good verbal Q & A session at the meeting and we should definitely be prepared to address your questions as well as others. My comments on your questions are below.
It isn't clear how long it will be before Web 2.0 tools make Moodle obsolete, but that seems to be the direction things are going. For now, Moodle provides some elements of course support that teachers will prefer over emerging Web 2.0 tools.
The main benefit to a common calendar convention is that we can easily share information.
I have no idea, but I also have no idea about how safe and secure the ICU system is.
It depends on how much we want to be a community that values connectivity, communication and collaboration. If these are highly valued, they will be facilitated by shared knowledge and infrastructure. If they are not valued, we can leave each person to fend for him or herself. It's interesting that this didn't really emerge as a value from the retreat. Perhaps it is something we should clarify more fully.
Hi everyone,
I have a question, a proposal and a comment about the IT plan report
format and content.
Question:
If we go with Goffice, does that mean the report will propose no
specific individual actions required by all-ELP members?
My understanding is that individual actions will be required, specifically using the Goffice 'homepage' and calendar system at a minimum. Possibly getting a new email account as well.
Prpoposal:
I still think we might consider a Q&A format approach (see below) and
wonder what everyone thinks.
Q1. What is the aim of the C3 committee? (I really don't think people
know what we are trying to do.)
My sense of this is the list of activities in the draft that we identified and want to promote and support.
Q2. What does C3 propose the role of IT be in the ELP?
Support C3 (connectivity, communication and collaboration) and the list of activities.
Q3. What IT technologies could possibly help the ELP and its staff
function more effectively in the future?
The answer to this is infinite (and getting infiniter). That's why we should start with something very basic, but something that can be expanded and scaled, as Owen has pointed out.
Q4. What does the C3 committee propose that all ELP teachers try to
learn this year? (for a vote-or skip this question for now and clearly
state that we have not decided any proposals yet)
How to use the new Goffice account log in and calendar system is what I think we are proposing as a minimum. However, this is just a push in what we hope will be the right direction. If people 'survive' this, they will hopefully be encouraged to go beyond and try other new things.
Comment:
My feeling about the 1st paragraph of the current proposal is that it is
trying to "alarm" the readers with how quickly things are changing in
some parts of the world (Web 2.0 etc.). While it may be true that things
are changing, I'm not sure "alarm" is the place we want to start-is it?
I don't think the audience will empathize with that unless mounting
evidence is presented. Most of us in the ELP feel fine with ourselves
for the most part. Change will only come willingly by strong
presentations of benefits.
This is a point well taken. My intent was not to alarm, but to show relevance for our proposal. I agree that we shouldn't try to alarm or shock people into acceptance of our proposals. On the other hand, I think we should provide our 'take' on what is developing and why it is important to us now and in the future.
Why not start with the above Q&A basics connected to the audience?
It's a good approach. I was just trying to adopt a consistent format for all three reports. I'll wait to hear how others feel.
Mark
PS:
------------------
Then, if we have space...I can imagine that some other questions that
may arise in the minds of staff members will be:
I think it would be a mistake to try to answer all the possible questions in the text of the document. I am anticipating a good verbal Q & A session at the meeting and we should definitely be prepared to address your questions as well as others. My comments on your questions are below.
1) What's the role of Moodle going to be? (We're just getting the hang
of it. Isn't that where we are going?)
It isn't clear how long it will be before Web 2.0 tools make Moodle obsolete, but that seems to be the direction things are going. For now, Moodle provides some elements of course support that teachers will prefer over emerging Web 2.0 tools.
2) There is a proposal about a "ELP-wide" adoption of calendaring on
Google." What exactly does that mean for me? What is wrong with our
current calendaring on paper? What significant program-wide benefit does
this online calendar provide? Is it a benefit mainly for adminstrators
or a benefit for teachers?
It means that if you want to check the 'official' ELP calendar, you will need to do it on Google. If you are a coordinator and want to reserve 301 ERB II for a meeting of RCA teachers, you will need to schedule your meeting on a Google calendar. If you want to share your teaching and office hours with your students, a Google calendar is the preferred way to do this online. What I find difficult about our current system is that beyond what gets published once a year in the handbook, there is no way to widely share new information.
Mark's note: If we are going to imply "an all-ELP requirement" in any
way, I have a feeling we should accompany it with a highly graphic
presentation of the benefits. As we already know, there will be
resistance to any mention of "all-ELP"
The main benefit to a common calendar convention is that we can easily share information.
3) Is it safe and secure to store information on Google? Are we sure?
I have no idea, but I also have no idea about how safe and secure the ICU system is.
4) Is it not possible to leave choices about technology use in the hands
of individual instructors? (The extremist question-but I think the
sentiment may exist and we need to start here.)
It depends on how much we want to be a community that values connectivity, communication and collaboration. If these are highly valued, they will be facilitated by shared knowledge and infrastructure. If they are not valued, we can leave each person to fend for him or herself. It's interesting that this didn't really emerge as a value from the retreat. Perhaps it is something we should clarify more fully.
I'm just brainstorming here and not proposing that these be mentioned
necessarily in the report. However, I can feel them coming-spoken or
unspoken-and we probably need to anticipate them and have convincing
answers.
___________________________
Mark Christianson, Instructor
English Language Program
International Christian University
3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8585
Tel: 0422-33-3497/Fax: 0422-33-3500
http://edublog.jp/mark/
Owen James wrote:
> Dear C3ers,
>
> "The basic platform we recommend to start with is a suite of Google
> applications."
>
> I think it should not be a platform based on free, individual accounts.
>
> 1. An individual-accounts platform is not as scalable to the whole
> organisation as a suite, which is why Google developed Goffice suites.
> For example, an ELP Goffice suite will feature a very useful ELP Start
> Page:
>
> The Start Page lets you create a unique, dynamic place for your users to
> preview and access their inboxes and calendars, find relevant
> information from your organization or business, and search the web. You
> customize the layout, header information and color scheme, as well as
> the page's default content, which can include many different iGoogle
> gadgets < http://www.google.com/ig/directory?hl=en&root=/ig&dpos=top>,
> your own content and links, and RSS feeds. After your users log in, they
> can further customize the Start Page.
>
> 2. Starting with free, individual accounts will require unneccessary
> changes later, e.g. a user will need to change their email address again
> to use ELP Goffice.
>
> 3. Calendar integration is stronger in a suite i.e Education or Premium.
> And calendaring appears to be a priority.
>
> Thus, Goffice is where we should start. As a requirement, we therefore
> need server space and an ELP domain @ elpicu.ac.jp <http://elpicu.ac.jp >.
>
> Additionally, without server space a new ELP website cannot be
> developed. A dynamic ELP website that aggregates individual practice by
> leveraging RSS and therefore making automatic what is now done (or not
> done) by hand, is necessary to develop a communication & information
> portal for the ELP - that is, a one-stop shop selling everything you
> need to do your ELP work.
>
> It is important to start right and avoid problems later.
>
> Rushing, but thank you.
>
> Owen.
>
>
>
> Integration is key, when multiple users
>
>
>
> On 5/23/07, *Bill Harshbarger* < wcharshbarger@gmail.com
> <mailto:wcharshbarger@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi again,
>
> Attached are two new drafts for our proposals.
>
> I would like to distribute our final drafts along with the agenda
> either Friday or Monday at the latest, so please let me know as soon
> as possible of any further changes you want to make.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>
> On 5/23/07, *CHRISTIANSON Mark* < markc@icu.ac.jp
> <mailto:markc@icu.ac.jp >> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Bill and everyone,
>
> "Even simpler" sounds good to me. I'll look forward to the new
> draft of
> the proposal.
>
> Mark
> ____________________________________
> Mark Christianson, Instructor
> English Language Program
> International Christian University
> 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8585
> Tel: 0422-33-3497/Fax: 0422-33-3500
> http://edublog.jp/mark/
>
> Bill Harshbarger wrote:
>> Hi Mark,
>>
>> I'm sorry I didn't get to respond to your first message. I really
>> appreciate the work you have put into this. Based on the
> input from
>> other members of this group, I am thinking now that we need to
> go even
>> simpler than your version. I'm hoping to come up with
> another draft
>> tomorrow and then we can look at all the different versions
> and see what
>> we want to go with.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Bill
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5/22/07, *CHRISTIANSON Mark* < markc@icu.ac.jp
> <mailto:markc@icu.ac.jp>
>> <mailto: markc@icu.ac.jp <mailto: markc@icu.ac.jp>>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> Just to clarify, I agree with the idea to go with a simple
>> proposal in
>> next Tuesday's meeting.
>>
>> I thought a short document with 5 Q&As would be one way
> to go. A
>> rough
>> possible five question Q&A version is below. (same as
> what I
>> sent earlier)
>>
>> What does everyone think about the Q&A format and the
> questions?
>>
>> Mark
>> ____________________________________
>> Mark Christianson, Instructor
>> English Language Program
>> International Christian University
>> 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8585
>> Tel: 0422-33-3497/Fax: 0422-33-3500
>> http://edublog.jp/mark/
>>
>> CHRISTIANSON Mark wrote:
>>
>>
>> > Mark's ideas:
>>
>> I agree to make a proposal that is
>> > 1) short with a Q&A format
>> > 2) focuses mainly on what we propose people "should" do, know
>> or learn,
>> > 3) avoids mentioning unknown vocabulary words except for the
>> few things
>> >
>> > How about if we answer the following basic questions.
>>
>> > Q1. What is the aim of the C3 committee?
>> >
>> > The C3 committee (Bill, Ged, Dave, Owen and Mark) has been
>> meeting over
>> > the past two months to try to explore new ways to help ELP
>> staff and
>> > students work together collaboratively, possibly using new
>> types of IT
>> > technologies. The C3 committee is examining how we currently
> work
>> > together in groups such as committees, how we share,
>> collaborate on, or
>> > archive key documents, how we coordinate calendar scheduling of
>> > meetings, how we use multimedia, and how we conduct and share
>> results of
>> > research. (See chart)
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Q2. What should the role of IT be in the ELP?
>> >
>> > The C3 committee believes that all ELP teachers should try
>> their best to
>> > learn how to use new technologies that can increase
>> collaboration and
>> > productivity in the department. At the same time, the C3
>> committee
>> > understands that adoption of any new technologies or methods
> is a
>> > challenging process, and that there needs to be a clearly
>> identifiable
>> > advantage to the new technology. Furthermore, if any
> departmental
>> > adoption of technology is to occur, all staff must clearly
>> understand
>> > that need, vote to accept it, and be given the necessary
>> support and
>> > training to make the transition.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Q3. What IT technologies could possibly help the ELP and its
> staff
>> > function more effectively in the future?
>> >
>> > The C3 committee believes that a variety of Internet-based
>> tools could
>> > be useful for us. Some of these names may be familiar, while
>> others may
>> > be completely new. You may remember when "Xerox" or "email"
>> was a new
>> > term, and all language is language learning.
>> >
>> > 1. Google Groups seems to have many functions very useful for
>> organizing
>> > group collaboration for committees or classes.
>> > 2. Google Calendars seems very useful for helping us share our
>> teaching
>> > schedules.
>> > 3. Google Office seems very useful for sharing and
>> collaborating on
>> > documents such as course materials.
>> > 4. Online blogs such as Blogger seem very useful for staff or
>> students
>> > to write journals and respond to each other.
>> >
>> > If you are interested, some other tools we are exploring are
>> Survey
>> > Monkey (online surveys), Wetpaint (wikis), Del.ici.ous (social
>> > bookmarking), Diigo (social web annotation), RSS feeds and so
>> on. Moodle
>> > is also useful tool, but has limitations and seems gradually
>> replaceable
>> > with the Google related tools mentioned above.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Q4. What does the C3 committee propose that all ELP teachers
>> try to
>> > learn this year?
>> >
>> > The C3 committee proposes that all ELP teachers make an effort
>> to...
>> >
>> >
>> > Q5. What does the C3 committee propose that all ELP teachers
>> do as the
>> > first step? Why is this necessary?
>> >
>> > 1) Create a Google account by accessing www.
>> >
>> >
>> > Gotta go to sub for Lynn's class, so let me leave it here.
>> >
>> > Mark
>> > ____________________________________
>> > Mark Christianson, Instructor
>> > English Language Program
>> > International Christian University
>> > 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8585
>> > Tel: 0422-33-3497/Fax: 0422-33-3500
>> > http://edublog.jp/mark/
>> >
>> > Bill Harshbarger wrote:
>> >
>> > >Hi,
>> > >
>> > >Thanks to all of you for your input on the draft of our report
>> to the
>> > >ELP on this topic. At this point, I think the message that we
>> should
>> > >keep the amount and complexity of information given in the
>> report to a
>> > >minimum is clear.
>> > >
>> > >We have two basic proposals floating at the moment:
>> > >
>> > >1. Owen: I think 12 months is long-term enough and I suggest
>> we focus on
>> > >4 main things. These 4 things will be detailed in the report
>> to the ELP.
>> > >This document here is for C3 only and is built iteratively
> as our
>> > >understanding of who we are and what we want to do develops
>> over time.
>> > >The 4 actions I recommend are: 1) Server space (@ icu.ac.jp
> <http://icu.ac.jp>
>> < http://icu.ac.jp>
>> > >< http://icu.ac.jp>), 2) ELP Goffice (i.e free Education
>> Edition of
>> > >Google Office + Delicious), 3) Support for individual
>> practice, & 4) new
>> > >ELP Website (Wordpress-blog based). These four actions need
> to be
>> > >undertaken in sequence (and then maintained simultaneously),
>> the second
>> > >requires the first, and so on. In the report to the ELP I
>> recommend we
>> > >try to show the 4 actions and how they connect visually,
>> because these
>> > >four actions represent a lot of very fundamental change to the
>> work
>> > >individuals do and how the ELP manages information. Careful
>> planning is
>> > >required. During and after implementation these 4 actions will
>> require a
>> > >lot of on-demand support to succeed. In other words, I think
>> we should
>> > >not underestimate the kind and scale of change that these 4
>> actions will
>> > >produce.
>> > >
>> > >2. Start with Google accounts and calendar function only and
> then
>> > >gradually build toward more usage of other Google services and
>> Web 2.0
>> > >tools..
>> > >
>> > >As I see it, Owen's proposal would be largely invisible to the
>> staff and
>> > >would allow proposal #2 to be primarily what people would be
>> aware of
>> > >initially. However, it does have some potentially significant
>> issues
>> > >attached to it, such as who would be assigned to do the set
>> up, support
>> > >and management of the server space and eventually the ELP
>> Website. I am
>> > >pretty ignorant of what is required along these lines, but if
>> there is
>> > >sufficient to be gained, I'm willing to give it a try. I may
>> be able to
>> > >enlist Suzaki san's help if the work is not too technical.
>> > >
>> > >Therefore, I propose a rather general and simple proposal for
>> the ELP
>> > >meeting. It would outline our recommendation to work toward
>> gradually
>> > >integrating Web 2.0 tools and services into the workings of
>> the ELP,
>> > >starting with use of Google Calendar along with a Google
>> account for all
>> > >ELP staff. We can then work out whether this will be arranged
>> through
>> > >the separate server space and free educational version of the
>> > >services, or through individually set up Google accounts if
>> the server
>> > >option proves to be too complicated for us to handle.
>> > >
>> > >Your thoughts, gentlemen....?
>> > >
>> > >Bill
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >--
>> > >Bill Harshbarger, Director
>> > >English Language Program
>> > >International Christian University
>> > >3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka-shi
>> > >Tokyo 181-8585
>> > > + (81) 422-33-3219
>> > > billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp> <mailto:
> billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>>
>> <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>
> <mailto: billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>>>
>> > > http://indirector.blogspot.com <http://indirector.blogspot.com>
>> > >
>> > >--
>> > >Bill Harshbarger, Director
>> > >English Language Program
>> > >International Christian University
>> > >3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka-shi
>> > >Tokyo 181-8585
>> > > + (81) 422-33-3219
>> > > billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>
> <mailto: billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>> <mailto:
>> billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto: billh@icu.ac.jp>
> <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>>>
>> > > http://indirector.blogspot.com
>> > >
>> >
>> > >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bill Harshbarger, Director
>> English Language Program
>> International Christian University
>> 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka-shi
>> Tokyo 181-8585
>> + (81) 422-33-3219
>> billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>
> <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp >>
>> http://indirector.blogspot.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Bill Harshbarger, Director
>> English Language Program
>> International Christian University
>> 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka-shi
>> Tokyo 181-8585
>> + (81) 422-33-3219
>> billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto: billh@icu.ac.jp>
> <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>>
>> http://indirector.blogspot.com
>> >
>
>
> Tokyo 181-8585
> + (81) 422-33-3219
> billh@icu.ac.jp <mailto:billh@icu.ac.jp>
> http://indirector.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> ELP, International Christian University,
> 3-10-2 Osawa, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-8585.
> Office ph: (81) 0422-33-3371
> Skype ID: owen_james
> >
Tokyo 181-8585
+ (81) 422-33-3219
billh@icu.ac.jp
http://indirector.blogspot.com
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