FLOSS4EDU/Pacific workshop

Introduction
In working towards the vision of a free education curriculum by 2015, COL in collaboration with the New Zealand Ministry of Education is hosting a capacity building and strategy workshop to launch a Pacific Chapter of the FLOSS4Edu initiative.

FLOSS4Edu is a rapidly growing Commonwealth initiative to tackle the dire shortage of free knowledge for education, and to build capacity in the use of free software tools for educators. WikiEducator's FLOSS4Edu project strives to build a thriving community of teachers sharing knowledge to widen access to quality learning opportunities. This workshop aims to ensure that the Pacific region can engage as equal partners in our information society leveraging the potential of relevant and accessible technologies.

Aims of the workshop
The hands-on workshop approach is inspired by a Native American proverb:


 * Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may not remember, involve me, and I'll understand.

The FLOSS4Edu Pacific Workshop aims to:


 * build capacity focusing on the skills required for developing free content on WikiEducator so that participants can return to their home countries to present their own capacity building workshops;
 * explore work done in New Zealand relating to the specific pedagogical requirements of eLearning for Maori and Pacific learners;
 * introduce the range of free content resources and projects on WikiEducator which are freely available for use in facilitating capacity building workshops in country;
 * to establish and launch the Pacific Chapter of the FLOSS4Edu project;
 * to collaboratively build a strategy for growth and sustainability of the Pacific Chapter of the FLOSS4Edu project.
 * to strengthen strategic networks in the Pacific region.

Details

 * Dates: 13 - 15 August 2007
 * Place: Wellington, New Zealand. Venue to be confirmed
 * Facilitators: Dr Wayne Mackintosh, Education Specialist, eLearning and ICT Policy, Commonwealth of Learning (COL); Jenny Williams, COL Project Manager for the South Pacific. MOE facilitators to be announced.
 * Dignitaries: To be announced

Who should attend?
COL aims to invite a representative from each of the Pacific Island nations and will confirm the invitation in writing through appropriate channels. Individual participants will commit to presenting an in country capacity building workshop using free materials that will be supplied by COL. This commitment is best demonstrated by a written or electronic confirmation that your institution will support you in presenting a workshop in your home country.

Workshop participants are:


 * educators with an interest in widening access to education through appropriate use of ICTs;
 * individuals who are passionate about education and learning as a common good for society;
 * people who believe that knowledge is a community resource to be shared;
 * collaborators who wish to work effectively in teams to achieve their aims;
 * individuals with basic ICT skills and a willingness to learn new skills;
 * skilled facilitators who are interested in sharing their knowledge and willing to involve / engage others (i.e., initially through presenting a similar workshop for a community).
 * strategic thinkers & doers

Agenda
Tentative agenda.

Day 1, 13 August 2007

 * Pōwhiri
 * Official opening and welcome address.
 * Introduction to wiki technologies, their advantages and disadvantages;
 * How to register and create an account in the www.wikieducator.org website;
 * How to edit and format text within a wiki;
 * Resources and projects to support in country initiatives

Day 2, 14 August 2007

 * Presentation to be confirmed by MOE

Participants will work on real projects projects and ideas generated by the group.


 * How to create internal links; and
 * Uploading images in media Wiki
 * How to communicate on the wiki and to use the discussions and talk features on WikiEducator;
 * How to manage collaborative editing with the ability to revert back to earlier edited wiki version and inherent WikiEducator features that prevail against content vandalism; and
 * Creation of External links within WikiEducator

Day 3, 15 August 2007

 * Presentation to be confirmed by MOE
 * Strategic planning for the Pacific Chapter of the FLOSS4Edu project
 * Launch of the Pacific Chapter of FLOSS4Edu
 * Free content project commitments listed
 * Official closing