I’ve been doing quite a bit of work building up resources on the WikiEducator platform for our Study Skills course.
The lack of formatting control on the WikiEducator platform is really starting to bug me. Formatting adds quite a bit of readability to documents. Using colouring and alignment you can empasize or de-emphasize aspects of the text. I’m pretty disappointed with my recent effort. Yes I know Leigh, I do need to add some images to flash it up.
While I was originally pretty keen on the open-office export to media-wiki text, I’m finding that it only seems to handle very simple documents. It makes a complete hash of URLs for example. Most of the documents that I’ve been working with recently require so much editing once I’ve copied and pasted them into the wiki, that it would be almost definitely easier to write the material straight into the wiki.
I’m now committed to working in the wiki environment, but I wonder if something like box net might be a better option for the future???
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February 19, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Wayne Mackintosh
Hi David,
I agree that a wiki is not a desktop publisher and there are restrictions in what can be done from a layout point of view. However, when measured against the benefits you gain from developing in an open web environment — these layout restrictions become less important.
They say that the art of design is really about being creative within contraints .
I’ve had a bash at tweaking the layout a little on your page. If you don’t like what I’ve done – no worries its a wiki, you can revert!
Getting the layout to work is about tweaking three elements of a resource and trying to get the balance right. These elements are content design, learning design and visual design. It requires a little trial and error – for example: Adding a little text here to get the placement of the heading right in relation to an image or including a pedagogical template to enhance the educational flow.
So what are the added benefits of the wiki:
1. Click on the “Download as pdf” link on your page. It produces a handout for your class. You simultaneously have an online and pdf version of the resource.
2. Very soon we will be able to produce a version of your content that you can import directly into your learning management system.
3. You got a little learning design input from someone in Vancouver — free of charge and you’re free to reject or accept the changes .
4. Your international exposure and connectedness is enhanced through communities like WikiEducator. Every week there are about 30 000 unique visitors to WE.
Box.net is file sharing service — not a community of educators committed to the dynamic world of social software!
Have fun — you will see that you have made the right choice in wiki technology.
February 20, 2008 at 7:10 am
leighblackall
I was relieved to see Wayne and Brent had been in there to help out, and Wayne’s comment here. Its a concern that you’re reconsidering MediaWiki at this stage Dave. I find the format limitations a benefit actually as it forces a kind of consistency of the information layout that gives people more of a chance to become used to and so navigate more easily. The same can be said with things like Blackboard (indeed standardisation was a primary reason to take on LMS’ in the early days).
I note that you are considering Vlogging also. Going by your references I guess you have used the Networked Learning resource on Vlogging as a launching pad? Have you checked out Wikieducator’s Kaltura yet? I’ve been using it a little. I load to Youtube first, then import from Youtube into Kaltura…
Also, Wikieducator has RSS. if you add and around the content you want to come out, you can use the resulting RSS to redisplay the content… but that might be something you are not familiar with.
And what about the transferability of the skills you are acquiring through using Wikieducator? You can now engage in Wikipedia and all the other big time wikis – which would also be handy in terms of promoting your expertise and the courses you manage… your students can also acquire some if not all of these skills. Similar can be said with your use of WordPress. It is a content management system that is very widely used and so you are aquiring skills in it use that are more transferable than other content management systems you are using.
I hope you will go slow with Windows Live though…
February 20, 2008 at 7:53 am
davidmcquillan
Don’t worry about my use of Windows Live. I’m not planning to completely ditch the open-source movement. It’s a functional thing right now. That platform seems to suit our needs the best.
I’m not totally off the use of WikiEd, just expressing my current frustration. I’m committed at this point anyway for at least the next year or so.
March 11, 2008 at 9:50 pm
hillarypjenkins
Hi Dave
I share your frustration and can add another angle. At present I type straight into the wiki – its easier and the work smart thing to do. I have tried using open office but find it lacks the formatting capabilities of dare I say the words Microsoft Office and am not persuaded to use it – sorry Leigh.
That arguement aside – what I am having difficulty with is backing up my work. Our ISS department has suggested that as I am writing the material I can just save it onto my own networked area for storage. The problem being that as I put work straight into the wiki – I am only able to save the work in its most basic form.
Also I would love to use you wikipage on email – windows live and internet use as we teach a unit standard – email and internet use in the tourism industry so this would be a good base. How would you suggest I do this eg. linking to your wiki or copying the wiki onto our site.
Cheers Hillary – Travel and Tourism