WikiEducator:M and E Logic model

How do we know when WikiEducator is successful?
This is a tough question to answer given the productive dynamics of self-organising communities. That's why we need to work harder at plotting our paths of success.

WikiEducator is a unique community project in that the infrastructure is funded by an international intergovernmental agency. Furthermore, WikiEducator is a key initiative in COL's development programme which is committed to working collaboratively with the community in building a successful global project.

This section will summarise WikiEducator's logic model from COL's perspective and how it informs the selection of COL's activities as a contribution to the project and the corresponding monitoring and evaluation plan. The logic model illustrates the cause-result propositions among the:
 * inputs into the project;
 * short-term outputs; and
 * achievement of the longer-term outputs envisaged by COL's eLearning initiative.

Ultimately WikiEducator must have an impact on the development agenda by contributing to the millennium development goals and the realisation of education for all -- otherwise we have failed in our mission. Reflecting on a career in distance education, Sir John Daniel, patron of WikiEducator, concludes that:


 * "For my generation the great innovation was the course team. For the next I suspect that it will be Open Educational Resources .

COL initiates a wide range of activities over the duration of the three-year strategic plan. With reference to WikiEducator, these activities are prioritised and selected according the framework of the logic model below. In order to monitor and evaluate our progress, we have identified a number of key performance indicators (quantifiable metrics) to help us gauge the progress and success of the project on an ongoing basis.

WikiEducator's logic model
This section provides a description of WikiEducator and its anticipated outputs, outcomes and potential international impact in general and the Commonwealth in particular.

Implementing a phased approach
WikiEducator's strategy is divided into three distinct phases.

Inputs

 * [[image:WikiEdLogicModel.svg|thumb|500px|right|Figure 1: WikiEducator's Logic Model]]Technology infrastructure. Installation of a Mediawiki server and supporting interaction technologies for communication among WikiEducators. Technology infrastructure also includes the software enhancements required for the development and delivery of asynchronous learning materials and the implementation of customised templates to support quality assurance approaches in the wiki;


 * Training resources. The development of free content resources including, for example:
 * tutorials on how to develop OERs in the wiki environment;
 * OER workshop toolkits for facilitators to run their own WikiEducator capacity building initiatives;
 * Guidelines on how to participate effectively in the WikiEducator community;


 * People. The educators, learning designers, multimedia and technology support individuals who form the WikiEducator community. This input includes organisations and institutions who support the WikiEducator project.


 * External funding. External funding raised to support capacity building and community development for OERs. This includes both extra budgetary funding activities through the COL and in-country fundraising for national projects on WikiEducator. Institutions are encouraged to support WikiEducator in kind by allocating resource time for the authoring of OERs, professional development and community building in the official roles and responsibilities of staff.

Impact
The WikiEducator community believes that OERs can make a significant contribution to:


 * Lowering the production costs of asynchronous learning resources;
 * Removing the barriers to active and meaningful collaboration among educators (formal and informal), regardless of educational level, language, culture, technology, and geography
 * Improving the quality of free educational content in general and improving the opportunities for reconfiguring these resources in ways that are more appropriate for local contexts;
 * Widening access to educational opportunities particularly through alternative educational opportunities for learners who may not have the opportunity to participate in the formal education system.

Ultimately WikiEducator aims to make a contribution to the Millennium Development Goals, specifically:


 * increased opportunities for income generation through free content and reduction in the cost of educational provision;
 * increases in education participation rates at all levels and sectors;
 * improved participation from women in ICT enabled education;
 * sustainable partnerships for development