OERNZ/Planning/First planning meeting/Selection criteria for participants of the Train-the-Trainers workshop

Draft concept for the motion
''This draft motion has been formulated based on the discussion contributions below -- Technically the chair may not table any motions. Any member of the OERNZ planning team who is of the opinion that the draft motion represents a general consensus, should formally table the motion under the relevant heading below.'' --Wayne Mackintosh 03:51, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

Draft motion

OERNZ aims establish a cadre of OER facilitators from the sector to build capability of New Zealand teachers for the reusable and portable content project by hosting a train-the-trainers workshop, 20 - 21 November 2009 in Christchurch. The OERNZ Planning Team recommend that the following criteria and guidelines should direct the selection of participants for the train-the-trainers workshop:


 * Availability: Candidates must be available to travel and attend the workshop (Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the OERNZ project).
 * Skills: Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated an acceptable level of Mediawiki skills. In addition, candidates with a keen interest and potential to use collaborative wiki approaches for creating and sharing reusable and portable content will also be considered.
 * Commitment: Prospective candidates must agree to:
 * Organise and run at least one or more OERNZ wiki-taster sessions (a 3 hour introduction to OERNZ and the wiki)
 * Participate in at least as lead or co-facilitator in at least one of dedicated New Zealand online workshops (OERNZ will pay an honorarium for facilitation services).
 * Share knowledge and experience freely so that OERNZ can welcome and support new facilitators as our project matures.
 * Spread: The selection process should aim to recruit participation from all levels including early childhood, primary and secondary levels.

Discussion to prepare concept motion
Background The purpose of the Train-the-Trainer's workshop is to widen access, expand capability and skills development opportunities for New Zealand teachers to participate in building a national OER commons for reusable and portable content. We need to build a cadre of OERNZ facilitators and trainers who will share their knowledge in scaling the development of reusable and portable content for Aotearoa. This is an investment in our open education futures and ideally we would want to identify and select the early adopters, champions and advocates to lead our project. Selected participants for the Train-the-Trainer's workshop will be required to take initiative in arranging WikiEducator taster sessions in their area and participating as trainers and facilitators in our dedicated online workshops for New Zealand teachers. Possible selection criteria may include teachers who:


 * have already demonstrated an acceptable level of wiki skills in WIkiEducator combined with an interest in using the wiki technology for reusable and portable content.
 * Will agree to:
 * Organise and run at least one wiki taster session (a 3 hour introduction to OERNZ and the wiki). OERNZ we will pay an honorarium of NZ$300 per taster session
 * Volunteer to participate as a co-facilitator in one of our online workshops --- an opportunity to see how this works -- no payment for the volunteer facilitation work.
 * Facilitate or co-facilitate a dedicated New Zealand online training workshop (Lead facilitator honorarium of NZ$1000 and co-facilitator NZ$500)
 * Are available to attend the Train-the-Trainer's workshop scheduled for 20/21 November 2009.

Thoughts? Do we have the criteria right? Do we need additional criteria? Feel free to add your comments ....
 * Should faciitators be from the NZ educator community, or could international facilitators step in as well?--Patricia Schlicht 13:38, 29 October 2009 (UTC)
 * I think these criteria look good. My only real question would be what about if there was a fantastic and really well suited trainer who just couldn't make the workshop on 20/21 November? Also in response to Patricia's comment I think these facilitators would have to come from New Zealand in the first instance. This is mainly as participants like the fact that there is someone near by that they can contact, I know we live in an on-line world but there are still people out there who would feel happier embarking on this is there was someone just down the road as it were. Also NZ facilitators would have a better idea of how the project fits into NZ teaching and curriculum. I would also imaging that international facilitators may find attending the workshop and running sessions in NZ a challenge. I however, can see no real issues with international facilitators helping to co-facilitate in the online workshops.--Jacqui Land 31 October 2009
 * Hi Jacqui -- Thanks for your feedback. Good comments and guidance. With reference to scheduling dedicated New Zealand training opportunities, for pragmatic reasons we will need to use Kiwi teachers given their intimate knowledge of the curriculum. At the same time, international experience will be extremely beneficial for our local project and where appropriate linking with classrooms in other parts of the world. Are we saying that we should facilitate and/or create avenues for international advisory roles? You're very right -- it is very likely that some of our best candidates may not be available to attend the 20/21 November workshop -- Also, I think that as our project matures more teachers will want to join us and help with training support. I suggest that we design OERNZ as an open project in the sense that anyone is free to join at any stage of the project -- we can provide "train-the-trainer" support in the future using the buddy system, where a prospective trainer can join a workshop with one of our more experienced kiwi trainers. Thoughts? Wayne Mackintosh 21:39, 1 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi Jacqui, Wayne -- For convenience educators from NZ would be better able to join a local workshop. However, I don't think "intimate knowledge" of the NZ NC is a definite requirement.  After all we are talking more about generic skills than specific subject knowledge no?  Those of us with a more international background can still contribute I think. Richard Jones November 2nd.


 * Hi all, I agree that a combination of having local and overseas would work well - certainly those already involved in the C4L have proven that distance is no barrier to training. At the same time the ability to engage on a personal level is important for creating the initial impetus. Nathan Parker NOv 2 4pm


 * Local people would be great for credibility/visibility. As we may be in short supply, then supplementing with internationals as guiding "facilitators" would add a nicer touch. --Rob McCrae 07:56, 3 November 2009 (UTC)


 * I support the notion of trainers being resident in NZ (for reasons given above, also credibility/reputation, accessibility, stronger locval relationshiops/networks. I am torn between attendance at the course being necessary and the restrictive nature of specific dates (and little lead time). I would probably settle on making attendance a requirement. Paul Seiler 07:50, 4 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Would it be important to have trainers from both early childhood, primary and secondary? - Carolyn Stuart


 * Excellent point -- clearly we need to add a criterion to achieve good representation from all levels in the sector. --Wayne Mackintosh 04:00, 2 November 2009 (UTC)


 * I am keen to see a good distribution across primary and secondary but would not make this a requirement just yet (too many barriers mean we might not even fill the course). Early childhood is not a priority (in my view) for this course, as the funding comes from school output classes. Paul Seiler 07:50, 4 November 2009 (UTC)


 * have already demonstrated an acceptable level of wiki skills in WIkiEducator -- Are there enough NZ educators across each of the sectors that are already in this category? (So much of WikiEducator is about community, it would be ideal if the trainers were already active here... just worried that it may not be practical at first.)  Jim 04:45, 3 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi Jim -- that's a good point -- and we need to think about this carefully. At this stage of the process, I can count at least 12 New Zealand teachers who have completed L4C training with intermediate-level skills in the wiki (but not necessarily evenly distributed across the sectors). In addition -- I assume that there are many skilled eLearning, ICT champions among our teachers who will have the skills to build capability. Its a catch 22 situation -- we need a core group of dedicated teachers who can help expand capability across the sector -- alternatively we can wait until we have larger base of teachers from which to select. I'm in the hands of the planning team here. Do we cancel the workshop and wait until we have a larger base from which to select teachers. I think that a two-day face-to-face workshop is too expensive to use for basic wiki training. With reference to selecting skills across the sectors -- I see this as a guideline and ideal -- but recognise that we may not be able achieve equal representation from early childhood, primary and secondary at this stage -- but willing to give this a bash :-) -- Thoughts? Have made a minor amendment to the draft motion to cater for this reflection --Wayne Mackintosh 05:13, 3 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi all - I'm not available on the 21st (kids school gala - priority I'm afraid!) - and agree Wayne - the wiki training already has a great tutorial workshop developed, so this is where people can get their basic training. I'd like to ses the workshop look at building the OERNZ concept from strategic viewpoint - maybe this can be done in a one day session this side of Xmas?? Then perhaps a second day (when the new editor is available) to look at the structure of the "train the trainers" sessions? Just quick thoughts.--Rob McCrae 08:06, 3 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi Rob, appreciate the comments and valuable feedback -- Pity you're already booked for the 21st :-(. You're right -- WE have an amazing set of online self-study tutorials, plus a very talented team of international facilitators which the OER Foundation funds to present an online workshop every month. Every Kiwi teacher is free to register for any of our online international workshops :-) My personal passion is to scale-up the reach of training opportunities in New Zealand. Imagine the impact by extending the number of NZ-based facilitators to help local teachers! I see the train-the-trainers workshop to focus on refining the resources we will be using for the OERNZ wiki taster sessions and focusing on a few of the advanced features we have in WikiEducator to support our strategic objectives. OERF (with funding support from MOE) has already commissioned the adaptation of our online tutorials for the new rich text editor -- so we're prepared for the future. We will continue with our strategic work through the OERNZ portal page and I'm confident that we can secure further funding both within New Zealand and off-shore to extend our strategic planning activities. I think that extending our capacity to train more teachers is a smart investment for OER futures. That said, we should find creative ways to involve dedicated educators like yourself who may not be available to attend the session on 20/21 Novemeber. Thoughts? --Wayne Mackintosh 08:42, 3 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi Wayne - if you could change the dates! Weekends just don't work for me. Agree completely with you - extending the quantity and quality is great. I'm really keen to help and am very happy to offer my services as a trainer and to assist in the development of strategy, tactics and resources. As I have said before - I'm happy to have costs covered, but would prefer to see any honorarium stay with WE for other activities (just my own personal view) --Rob McCrae 09:19, 3 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Hi Rob, completely understand and wish I could change the dates to suite everyone. In this particular instance -- we decided to go with a compromise and work around availability of the Computer lab time being donated by Christ's College. Nonetheless this is a good opportunity for us to strategise on how we extend reach and participation from all willing participants like yourself :-) Also appreciate your willingness to gift time for the benefit of open education -- with this kind of support we can go a long way! --Wayne Mackintosh 19:21, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

Tabled motion
OERNZ aims establish a cadre of OER facilitators from the sector to build capability of New Zealand teachers for the reusable and portable content project by hosting a train-the-trainers workshop, 20 - 21 November 2009 in Christchurch. The OERNZ Planning Team recommend that the following criteria and guidelines should direct the selection of participants for the train-the-trainers workshop:


 * Availability: Candidates must be available to travel and attend the workshop (Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the OERNZ project).
 * Skills: Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated an acceptable level of Mediawiki skills. In addition, candidates with a keen interest and potential to use collaborative wiki approaches for creating and sharing reusable and portable content will also be considered.
 * Commitment: Prospective candidates must agree to:
 * Organise and run at least one or more OERNZ wiki-taster sessions (a 3 hour introduction to OERNZ and the wiki)
 * Participate in at least as lead or co-facilitator in at least one of dedicated New Zealand online workshops (OERNZ will pay an honorarium for facilitation services).
 * Share knowledge and experience freely so that OERNZ can welcome and support new facilitators as our project matures.
 * Spread: The selection process should aim to recruit participation from all levels including early childhood, primary and secondary levels.

Richardnz 07:31, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

Second

 * Jim Tittsler 09:41, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

Discussion

 * Any further discussion points on a tabled motion are added here


 * Is it necessary to include early childhood in the 'spread', as funds priovided by the Ministry do not require this (this started as a schools initiaitve and I am more comfortable if it stays this way). However, if the community insists on EC I can live with it. -- Paul Seiler
 * Hi Paul, thanks for pointing this out -- it's a fair call and as MOE funds were intended for the school sector -- we should remain with the intended scope. I propose that if there are any Early Childhood representatives based in Christchurch who would like to attend we can accommodate this. With regards to participation in WikiEducator -- this of course is open for everyone and early childhood educators are most welcome to attend and participate in our online training activities as this does not increase the costs of the project. Does that work? --Wayne Mackintosh 09:00, 4 November 2009 (UTC)
 * This works well for me, as expressed in my vote. Paul Seiler 09:05, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Approval

 * --NathanP 19:09, 3 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Jim Tittsler 19:40, 3 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Craig M 00:30, 4 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Jacqui Land 4 November 2009
 * Paul Seiler 09:05, 4 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Rob McCrae 09:50, 4 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Mosborne01 00:30, 5 November 2009 (UTC)

International votes
Patricia Schlicht 02:42, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Abstention
Richardnz 01:57, 4 November 2009 (UTC) (potential conflict of interest)

Result
Motion is approved by a majority of OERNZ planning members in attendance. --Wayne Mackintosh 00:57, 5 November 2009 (UTC)