This blog entry started out as an email, and since it provides insight into my thinking, I’m going to drop it here. It arose from a back-n-forth regarding what tools to use in launching a blog initiative…I’ve added onto this a bit as I reflect a bit more.

“That’s a problem that I’d like to have,” I’ve found myself saying after visiting technology rich schools like Manor ISD’s New Tech HS. It’s like the problem of having too much money to spend on Ed-Tech…it’s a problem I wish I had. Many educators now face a similar type situation…they have access to a server they can use, and there are a million and one solutions available via free open source software. Would that we had the same problem with curriculum models that work, etc. Of course, it’s all in implementation.

I’m sharing the following in the hopes of people pointing out how dumb something is and offering an improvement suggestion.

1. I have a small team of people, free software enables me to provide services to many at “no cost.”
2. These services include ways that enhance communication and collaboration provided people understand how that happens.
3. Some of the obvious tools that build on MySQL/PHP and require server installation on Windows/Mac/Linux, as you prefer, include:
• Content Management System – Joomla or Drupal. A content management system lets you manage your campus/district web pages, to distribute web page maintenance (keeping content fresh) to the end user. It takes the “I can’t use a web page program like Dreamweaver even though I’ve attended many a class” out of the equation.
• Blogging Platform – WordPress or b2Evolution. This enables one to host blogs and enable publishing at will.
• Course Management System – Moodle. A course management system facilitates delivery of online professional learning. It has modules that simulate wikis, blogs, discussion boards, enables quizzes and other assessments/data collection to be done and much more.
• Wiki Solution – MediaWiki, PmWiki. This is a solution that allows people to collaborative edit content. Imagine teachers posting their own lesson plans to create a campus repository.
4. Problem with anything, though, is that you have to support these solutions. And, some of these solutions can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, some might use Moodle to provide blogging and wiki services, even content management, because it is fairly “easy” to use across the board. Others might use a wiki in lieu of a blog. How do you manage who uses what? What’s your plan for supporting all these applications? Who does the upgrades for the MySQL/PHP sites? What happens if it goes down, who are you going to call?

In short, although I’m eager to try new solutions, my team usually points out that we’re better off providing just a limited number of tools. As such, rather than tell people what to do with the tools, we encourage usage in this way:

• All district web sites must use Joomla, not Dreamweaver. Challenge here is what you do with folks that highly talented…turn them loose?
• District blogs go on the Apple blog server–unless for a special project that will go up and come down eventually). This enables users to login with their Active Directory account. Teachers are encouraged to use blogs for communication about what’s happening in their classroom, admin about what’s happening on their campus or within their area of supervision.
• No wiki solutions are in place because, frankly, I haven’t found one that’s GUI that we can support well and works. I use PMWiki.org but that’s really just for me (RHIP). I’m straddling the fence on whether to support Wikispaces.com, PBWiki and other solutions because you end up with content outside of the District’s sphere of control…I’d recommend GoogleSites but there’s no good way to back up that content.
• Online courses are handled in Moodle. This is the most versatile tool and I’ve had a lot of learning to better understand it. I’m looking forward to reviewing a Moodle 1.9 elearning course development book just to get more ideas on how to structure online courses. Moodle is easy to upgrade, customize, and has an awesome support area. If I had to start with any ONE tool, it would be Moodle.

What I’ve noticed is that blogs are being used with students because it’s easy to publish, as Wes Fryer likes to say, “publish at will.” However, often they end up being used as conversations. So blogs are either used as easy content management solutions or places where deep conversations are supposed to take place…in which case, why not use a Moodle discussion forum?

For future, I’m working on developing courses…I’ve had 2 in my head for awhile buzzing to get out and will share those via Colloodle (is that how to spell it, Ken?) and anywhere else. What I’d really like to see is 10 or so online courses that could be offered to district staff. The problem is, once Moodle gets popular as a tool and as an online professional learning delivery mechanism, I run into the “hedgehog principle.”

Thoughts? Sorry if I went on too long but these are the fun questions that I’m sure some of you have overcome.

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