User:Randyfisher/MP/Synopsis

Resources
Fieldkit # 72

Use Format: RandyFisherSynopsis_December08.odt

Standard citation
Fisher, Randy (2008). Primal Needs Gone Digital: Educators' Motivations in Collaborative Wiki Spaces

Core hypothesis
Educators from learning organizations are drawn to WikiEducator for three motivational needs: (1) power; (2) achievement; or (3) affiliation.

Abstract
Pioneering educator-authors are contributing their energies and talents, insights and perspectives to the global self-organizing WikiEducator community and contributing to open education resource (OER) projects - while working with established academic/learning organizations. Motivated by self-interest and a need for achievement, affiliation and power and varying forms of compensation, a growing global cluster of strategically-minded individuals and learning organizations are developing a scalable and sustainable model for free and open education. Undaunted by a complex, self-organizing ecosystem, wiki skills gaps and open source technology hiccups, educator-authors are engaging in meaningful participation, limited collaboration, and experiencing and increased performance and productivity.

Keywords

 * motivation, *wiki, collaboration, cooperation, education, organizational change, *open source, linux, FOSS, fear, resistance, needs, technology, technological change, complexity, *self-organization

Key references
Babbie, E. (1998). The practice of social research. Eighth Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

Lamb, B. (2004). "Wide Open Spaces: Wiki, Ready or Not", in EDUCAUSE Review, vol. 39, no. 5 (September/October 2004): 36–48. Retrieved December 6,2009 from http://connect.educause.edu/Library/EDUCAUSE+Review/WideOpenSpacesWikisReadyo/40498?time=1226076078

McLelland, David C. And Michael Burnham (1976). Power is the Great Motivator, Best of Harvard Business Review: Motivating People (2003).

'WikiEducator Statistics Reports (Tables & Charts)''. (2008). Retrieved December 5, 2008, from http://wikieducator.org/stats/reports/

'WikiEducator Strategy and Timeline: Quick Facts and Highlights.'' (2008). Retrieved December 2, 2008, from http://www.wikieducator.org/WikiEducator:About#Quick_facts_and_highlights

WikiEducator Top Contributors. (2008). Retrieved December 5, 2008, from http://wikieducator.org/stats/reports/TablesWikipediaEN.htm

Table of Contents

 * 1) Primal Needs in the Digital Age: Educators' Motivations in Collaborative Wiki Spaces
 * 2) Executive Summary
 * 3) The Wiki Process
 * 4) Needs-Based Motivation Supports Wiki Use, Growth
 * 5) Experiencing a New Experience
 * 6) Primary Motivational Needs
 * 7) Compelling Motivational Needs
 * 8) Needs-Based Motivation Theory
 * 9) Intervention |outline Intervention
 * 10) Measuring WikiEducators' Effectiveness
 * 11) WikiEducators on the Move
 * 12) Research Methodology
 * 13) Motivated by the Wiki-Way
 * 14) Complex, Self-Organizing Ecosystems (new chapter)
 * 15) An Open Community of Shared Interest & Support
 * 16) Hippie Era Motivation Theory Meets the Digital
 * 17) Where Do WE Go From Here?
 * 18) The Control Paradox and a Paradigm Shift
 * 19) Discussion / Conclusion
 * 20) References