Thread:Archive of thoughts and discussion from June 1 - June 29 - Various topics (1)

Following are comments originally posted under "Thoughts and discussion from workgroup members":

All are welcome to participate in this Workgroup -- just add your name to Workgroup participants above and join the discussion.


 * I´m opting to use the discussion tab for all my comments.--Benjamin Stewart 03:27, 1 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Hey Ben -- I too prefer the discussion tab for comments :-), that said there is divided opinion on the functionality of LQT -- so I respond where folk post their comments in the spirit of freedom of choice - --Wayne Mackintosh 05:58, 1 June 2009 (UTC).
 * I understand completely...that's the beauty of working in an open and flexible community. I just wanted people to know where I was "hiding out" (smile).--Benjamin Stewart 12:15, 1 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I completely agree with the discussion tab for comments. The challenge comes in that LQT still doesn't manage the notification of new comments within a discussion thread with consistency. I still have situations where I am not notified of an addition to a thread I am involved or the notification seems to show up weeks later. -- Peter Rawsthorne 14:11, 2 June 2009 (UTC)
 * So true, but at least all discussions that you participate in can be found in the My Watchlist page. You're not notified, but it does provide a place where you can see all discussions contained in the pages that you watch (i.e., listed in your watchlist). --Benjamin Stewart 13:53, 7 June 2009 (UTC)
 * Would different "types" of workgroups have different minimum requirements, for example would a technology related workgroup encourage/require inputs from the WE-Tech group?
 * I don't think I'd call it minimum requirements, but I do think that different workgroups will have different needs, certainly relating to user skills. I wonder if there are other categories of needs? How about setting up criteria for workgroups--Alison Snieckus 02:22, 1 June 2009 (UTC)
 * How about setting up criteria for community workgroups?


 * Do we need to provide a platform/way or direction as to where a minimum of three people = workgroup (I agree with your suggestion, Wayne) can get together or do we leave this up to the people involved to figure out. I found that some people do not know how to do this and might appreciate some guidance. Maybe a sublink with suggestions??? Patricia Schlicht June 1, 2009 6:51 pm (PST)


 * Patricia, (hope I understand your question correctly) --- I don't think we need a prescribed process regarding how people get together in forming work groups etc. Some folk may choose to use personal email, Skype, telephone or conversation in the corridor. However, I do think that it's important to list Workgroups that are addressing community wide issues in a central place, with fair and reasonable communication on the main lists telling folk about the active work groups. You're right, I do think that its very important to provide users with good information (even tutorials and training support etc.) in learning how things work in our community. --Wayne Mackintosh 03:20, 1 June 2009 (UTC) You addessed the point I expressed a bit unclear under your second point in your response. Thanks.--Patricia 02:42, 15 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Perhaps a "cross-pollination" page could be useful? - Similar to an "issues tracker" but with the specific purpose of drawing attention to reporting documents/pages which are important for other working groups. K 00:51, 2 June 2009 (UTC)


 * Should we develop different design templates which incorporates the major aspects of different subject areas such as for research, module development, handbook, guidelines, handout etc., to assure quality for these working groups, create a sub-link with templates to fit the different areas somewhere in the wiki? Patricia Schlicht June 1, 2009 6:57 pm (PST)
 * Some sort of classifying of groups could help in addressing needs addressed in first bullet. --Alison Snieckus 02:22, 1 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I think this will become clearer once we know what a work group is -- and how they operate, and the tools we need to support them. Again, I think we need to differentiate clearly between work groups established for project-wide initiatives -- for example developing a quality assurance framework for WikiEducator, compared to an individual project author getting a friend to comment and or review the materials developed.  --Wayne Mackintosh 03:32, 1 June 2009 (UTC)


 * One of the purposes of the workgoup is to facilitate communication. When a workgroup is formed, its founding members need to decide how to communicate. I don't think there is one answer for how to communicate, although my preference is on WE. Should there be a list of options, including pros&cons and examples that could be previewed? --Alison Snieckus 02:22, 1 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I Alison, I like the suggestion pertaining to options for communicating. That's a good idea. Apart from communication, I also think that transparency regarding process is very important for Wiki-wide changes. --Wayne Mackintosh 03:32, 1 June 2009 (UTC)
 * I also like the idea of adding comments to a page on WE as a means of communication. --Nellie Deutsch 09:11, 29 June 2009 (UTC)
 * My concern has always been the technology by which we choose to communicate. While I am pro technology myself - I live in North America - somebody in a developing country for instance might have a harder time, struggling with low bandwidth, access or lack of sufficient electricity, to meet -let's say in an e-conference room- to discuss. Those participants are clearly disadvantaged and the gap is getting bigger with progressive use of technology, isn't it?--Patricia 02:54, 15 July 2009 (UTC)