OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Announcements

Email containing instructions for Day 9
Kia ora

I hope you had a great weekend. I see that a few participants found a little time over the weekend to catch up after a busy week at school. Congratulations to all participants who have now achieved their 2nd wiki certification. Well done!

Today we will consider options for working off line and converting existing documents into wiki syntax. This is a useful feature, particularly if you want to convert existing materials for sharing on WikiEducator.

You will find the instructions for Day 9 on our course homepage:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home

After the close of business tomorrow, I'll announce the participant who has gained the most edits for this workshop and check on your wiki certifications.

Have fun!

Wayne

Email containing instructions for Day 8
Kia ora

I see quite a few User pages taking shape in the wiki -- I'm impressed. Folk still need to practice their images :-) In the near future I suspect we may see a growing number of Kiwis receiving our global Community Userpage Expo (UPE) award: http://wikieducator.org/UPE

Today we'll have a look at how you can leave a message on the talk page in the wiki. Have a bash and leave a message for one of the course participants. You will find the instructions on our course homepage:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Workshop_schedule

Remember that I will register participants on our OERNZ discussion list on google groups (http://groups.google.co.nz/group/oernz). If you have anything specific you would like to ask pertaining to our national collaboration to build an OER commons for New Zealand -- this is a good place to ask.

Next week we'll take things easy and I'll show you a cool feature to convert existing lesson plans or resources you may have into wiki syntax for sharing among teachers.

They say that sharing is caring :-) and have a great weekend. If you can find an hour or so to catch up over the weekend -- that would be great. We're very flexible and do our best to live out our motto: Just try it, our community will support you.

Cheers

Wayne

Email containing instructions for Day 7
Hi everyone

Congratulations to all our participants who are well on their way to achieving their 2nd wiki certification. You're almost there -- in most cases you just need to practice how to insert and manipulate images.

Many educators have questions relating to open editing in wikis -- particularly if someone else makes a change on your page. Today we will learn how you can monitor edits and how to revert edits.

A side note for anyone who may have fallen a little behind, don't give up, the finishing line is in sight! Besides, today is a little more relaxed so use this time to catch up on images. To be fair, images are perhaps the most complicated aspect in the wiki because it involves uploading files to the WikiEducator server. Once you have mastered images you are well on your way to achieving success!

You'll find a link to the instructions for Day 7 from our course homepage:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home

As you know, these workshops are part of our national collaboration to build an OER commons for New Zealand. This is a project designed by Kiwi teachers for Kiwi teachers. Feel free to download copies of OERNZ News and help spread the word among colleagues and friends at your individual schools:

http://wikieducator.org/New_Zealand_Schools_OER_Portal/Resources/OERNZ_News

Today, I'll also register you on the OERNZ mailing list -- this a good way to keep up to date with what is happening with the OERNZ project. Its a low traffic list, but remember you can always unsubscribe at any time.

Cheers Wayne

Email containing instructions for Day 6
Hi everyone

Hope that its not too wet in your part of the world -- we've had heavy rains in the Otago region.

Today you will learn how to upload and manipulate images in WikiEducator. After completing today's activities you can qualify for your 2nd community wiki certification. With apology -- I haven't had a chance to record a video insert today -- but all the instructions are available in the activities for Day 6 on the course home page:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home

If you have missed out on a day or two's activities -- not too worry. This is a flexible workshop and all the activities and course materials are accessible from the course page. If you can find an hour or two, you should quite easily be able to catch up and join the leaders board for the highest number of edits during the workshop :-)

As you know, WikiEducator is a free content project - - therefore we can only use images which use open content licenses. (You can read more about free content here: http://wikieducator.org/Wikieducator_tutorial/What_is_free_content .)

I recommend that when you are practising the upload of images -- choose a photograph which you took. This means you can legally license the content under an open content license. You will asked to choose a license and select a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) or Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike license (CC-BY-SA). We don't have enough time in the workshop to cover all the detail on licensing -- that's for an intermediate level course. It will make sense when you try uploading an image.

In the beginning images may be a little confusing -- remember when uploading images, in most cases the image resides on your local machine and there is process to upload this to the WikiEducator servers before than can be viewed by other internet users. It will make sense when you give this a try -- If you get stuck just ask us in the wiki discussion area -- we are here to help.

Have fun and I look forward to awarding your next WikiEducator certification!

Cheers

Wayne

Email containing instructions for Day 5
Kia ora

The start of another great day. I see that our cohort are making good progress judging by the edit counts.


 * Congratulations to those participants who now have the WikiEducator community kudos and status of a Level 1 WikiApprentice :-) Do you have a wiki certification yet?
 * As of yesterday evening -- Brad Williamson from Aotea College is leading our edit count and on track to achieving the OERNZ4 accolade of the top editor for our workshop :-) Well done!

The idea is to use the skills we learn each day to add information to your user pages. Visit the participant list page and click on the User page links to see what folk are doing. What is your edit count so far?

See: http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Participants

Day 5 of our workshop focuses on internal and external links and how to create a new page in the wiki. You'll find a link to the instructions for Day 5 on our course home page:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home

We all have busy schedules, and if you've fallen a little behind - don't worry. It's pretty easy to catch up. If you have any questions feel free to post these in the wiki. WE are here to help.

CU in the wiki

Cheers Wayne

Email containing instructions for Day 4
Kia ora

I trust that you had a good weekend. I see that a number of participants used the opportunity to catch up after a busy week.

Today we'll start experimenting with basic wiki editing on your user page. You will learn how to format text using using bold, italics, lists headings and subheadings. The idea is that you will demonstrate these skills on your user page or sandbox and qualify for your first community certification in WikiEducator :-).

It's quite easy using the rich text editor. After today's session you will have covered the skills for your first wiki certification.

You will find a link to the instructions for Day 4 in the course material box of our home page:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home

The best way to practice your wiki skills is to find a task or project relating to your real working life. I've posted two short videos from Albany Senior High School highlighting a few of their WikiEducator projects. There are also a few ideas and opportunities for you to think about. Look forward to hearing your thoughts in the wiki.

Cheers Wayne

Email containing instructions for Day 3
Kia ora,

Friday's activities have been purposefully designed to create a gap for those who may need a little time to catch up on the first two days work :-). If you've fallen a little behind, we have the advantage of the weekend to catch up. All you will need is about an hour to work through the activities for the first three days.

It's great to see folk introducing themselves in the wiki :-) -- Do take a look.

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Introductions

I see that that our Introduction page has recorded 212 page views. We have 10 participants registered for this workshop, and judging by the number of page views, this means colleagues are reading and visiting the wiki pages :-). Don't be shy -- join in and get your feet wet. If you get stuck -- just post your question in the wiki or by reply to this email. We're here to help.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DAY 3

Today we will show you how edit your user preferences and ask you to complete our New user survey -- shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes. See:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Workshop_schedule

Remember the best page to keep track and keep up to date with the workshop is the course homepage:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home

Cheers Wayne

Email containing instructions for Day 2
Kia ora

A special word of welcome to folk who joined us today. You can still invite friends to join us -- shouldn't take more than 15 or 20 minutes for new arrivals to catch up -- the advantage of flexible teaching :-).

This email provides a copy of the instructions for Day 2 of our OERNZ workshop in your inbox. Note that all instructions are linked from our workshop home page -- http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home. (Bookmark this page in your browser)

I see folk are making progress with the activities for Day 1 and experimenting :-). If you missed the email for Day 1 -- no worries -- you can access copies of previous email post in the wiki (see: http://tinyurl.com/29xs8j6).

Get to know your fellow participants and read the introductions posted so far (see: http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Introductions ). Wiki's are about experimentation -- be bold and have a bash at posting your own intro.

Day 2 is pretty relaxed -- you will learn more about the amazing world of wikis. Watch our short video introduction and follow the instructions posted in the wiki.

Your assignment for Day 2 is to post ideas and thoughts in the discussion on quality in open authoring systems. You'll find step-by-step instructions for Day 2 listed on the course schedule page:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Workshop_schedule

Alternatively, you can access the course materials directly from the home page for this workshop:

http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home.

I'll CU in the wiki :-)

Cheers Wayne

Email containing instructions for Day 1
Greetings everyone,

A very warm welcome to the 4th OERNZ free wiki skills workshop! Together we are making open education futures happen for New Zealand. We're a small group and there is still space for educators to register. Feel free to invite a colleague or friend from your school or institution to join us --- its more fun when you can share experiences with local colleagues. Send this link to invite friends to join us: http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Register

This is a wiki workshop, so all our instructions and activities will be conducted in WikiEducator. Each day, I will send you an email with the instructions for the day's activities which you are free to complete at your own pace and at a time which suites your personal schedule. You should be able to complete the activities assigned for each day within 15 to 20 minutes -- so this is not too onerous.

Wiki's come with a health warning -- they can be addictive, but we're going to have lots of fun.

You will find the instructions and assignment for the first day of the workshop from the course homepage in the wiki:


 * http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Home (see under the course materials box) -- Bookmark this page in your Browser!
 * Alternatively you can go to the course schedule page in the wiki: http://wikieducator.org/OERNZ/training/OERNZ4/Workshop_schedule
 * You have one easy assignment today -- that is to introduce yourself in the wiki (instructions provided under the course materials for Day 1)

Have fun and I will see you in the wiki :-)

Cheers Wayne