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Hello there, My name is [EMAIL PROTECTED] You will receive this message at the bottom of you incoming messages --- On Fri, 20/6/08, Gabriel Gurley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Gabriel Gurley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [documentation-dev] New Documentation Project Idea To: dev@documentation.openoffice.org Received: Friday, 20 June, 2008, 8:12 AM Hi Cheryl, Glad to hear you have an interest in this project. And as ccornell mentioned, no idea is a bad idea. So feel free to add any thoughts or suggestions you may have. Since you have expressed an interest in Moodle and its use in training, you may want to check out Michael Feldstein's blog eLiterate (http://mfeldstein.com), as it a regular read for me regarding distance learning and the use of Moodle and other open source technologies in education. To elaborate a little further, and in response to Frank's question, what I have visioned is to have, as Frank describes, a series of closed video podcasts / segments; meaning that the video would coincide directly with the lessons contained within the training guide. Now that doesn't necessarily mean that instructors / learners wouldn't be able to utilize the videos independently of the training guide. They may certainly do so if they so desire. But there are already a number of video tutorials floating around on the web for OpenOffice.org that can be utilized as such. The mission isn't to re-invent the wheel with this project by simply replicating what has already been made available by the hard work and generosity of others in the community. It is to take a different approach in regards to the instructional material contained in the video to fill a specific need; that is to tie the video in with the hands-on lessons in the training guide to provide a complete, turn-key training package that secondary and post-secondary educational institutions can utilize in the adoption of OpenOffice.org for instructional use in either a face-to-face learning environment or in a distance learning environment. Moreover, I should include homeschoolers as those who could benefit form these materials as well. My initial thoughts are to create the master video in the .mp4 format for several reasons: 1) it is an open format, 2) it is the format used for iTunes U podcast distribution for use with iPods, iPhone, Apple TV, etc., 3) but because it is an open format, once you have a master .mp4 file, it can be fairly easily converted for other formats, with the appropriate software, so that the video can be distributed in many different ways, such as through YouTube, Miro, ISO-9660 image files for burning to DVDs, etc. This could serve two purposes: 1) it would provide instructors / trainers a wide array of choices in accessing and utilizing the video / podcasts for their instructional needs, especially in countries outside of the US, and 2) perhaps the video / podcasts could increase awareness of OOo if it were available through many different sources. So, I hope this provides a little bit of additional information about my thoughts. Anyone who has any thoughts or suggestions regarding this, feel free to reply as I greatly appreciate any ideas that could help. This includes whether anyone has any thoughts as to whether this project is needed at all by the OpenOffice.org or educational community. Best regards, Gabriel Quoting "Bender, Cheryl" > Hi All; > > My name is Cheryl Bender and I've been lurking on the list trying to > decide how to get involved when this message caught my eye. I've > been interested in how Moodle as well as Sloodle (Second Life on top > of Moodle, see www.sloodle.org ) can be effectively used in various > types of training. > > I have no particular expertise in this area. I've installed Moodle > at home and played around a bit. My background is as a software > developer (mostly databases using SQL Server and Access or VB) and > have done online help (WinHelp and HTMLHelp) using RoboHelp and have > also written technical documentation and user manuals for software. > I'm not sure how to do the video segments Gabriel mentioned but > would be willing to do some research and try to figure it out. Let > me know if there is some way I can help on this. > > Thanks and look forward to working with you. > Cheryl > > > > > -----Original Message----- > On Behalf Of Frank Peters > Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 3:48 AM > To: dev@documentation.openoffice.org > Subject: Re: [documentation-dev] New Documentation Project Idea > > Hi Gabriel, > >> My name is Gabriel Gurley and I have been a higher education >> instructor and administrator for nearly 8 years. I wanted to contact >> the group regarding a project idea I have in mind that may be of >> assistance to the Documentation project. Before I mention my idea, I >> would like to give you a brief history of prior work I have created >> related to OpenOffice.org. >> >> A couple of years ago, my OpenOffice.org 2 training guide specifically >> for use in an educational and corporate training environment was >> published. The book, titled "A Conceptual Guide to OpenOffice.org 2 >> for Windows and Linux", has been released under the Creative >> Commons-ShareAlike 3.0 and GNU Free Documentation licenses. It is a >> 280-page book to help users and educators learn to use the office >> productivity suite. All of the documentation was written by myself, >> and the lessons found in the book were written with end-users, >> students and teachers in mind. In accordance with the CC and GNU >> licenses, I have made the book's text available as a free download at >> my website >> (www.gabrielgurley.com) and paperback copies are available for schools >> or individuals who desire having printed documentation. >> >> Moreover, a couple of months ago I released an online distance >> learning package based upon the book for use with Moodle. Upon >> release of the package, I gave a copy to Ian Lynch, an OpenOffice.org >> contributor and project lead for INGOTs (www.theingots.org), to make >> freely available for use on the INGOTs Moodle site >> (http://theingots.org/moodle/course/category.php?id=3). Ian and I are >> encouraging INGOTs students, as well as the community in general, to >> freely make adaptations of the module and make language translations >> of the package if there is an interest to do so. > > It looks like we need to link to thise resources from the docs website. > We still seem to miss a lot that's out there... > >> For the past two years, my goal has been to develop a comprehensive, >> quality training package for OpenOffice.org that educators and >> corporate trainers can utilize for end-user instructional purposes. I >> have distributed the printed editions of the book through Lulu and >> various book distributors, and have utilized the proceeds from the >> sale of the book to provide evaluation copies to educators who inquire >> about the book, as well as to purchase requisite hardware/software for >> creating the press-ready files necessary for making printed copies >> available. >> >> My desire is to not only make the training materials free (as in cost >> and in terms of licensing), but also to take the feedback I have >> received to improve the guide. Moreover, I would like to make another >> idea I have had for some time become a reality (if you all feel that >> there is a great need for such); creating a series of podcasts / >> videos that coincide with the training guide and distance learning >> package to create a complete training package. The project idea I >> have is as follows: >> >> - utilizing the documentation I have created for OpenOffice.org 2, >> make updates / improvements and release a second, press-ready edition >> based upon the upcoming release of OpenOffice.org 3. The training >> guide would be made available in a high-resolution, press-ready, >> bookmarked PDF file where users could utilize it as either an eBook or >> upload it to Lulu and other print-on-demand publishing services to >> make low-cost printed copies. > > So that is the training guide accompanying the Moodle package > (pardon my ignorance, I am not familiar with Moodle)? > >> - utilizing the documentation and feedback I have received from the >> release of the OpenOffice.org 2 Moodle training package, make updates >> / improvements and release a second edition of the package based upon >> the release of OpenOffice.org 3. The package would be made available >> as a Moodle ZIP compressed file for easy installation onto a Moodle server. >> >> - to coincide with the printed documentation and Moodle course >> package, develop a series of video podcasts (approximately 5-8 minutes >> in length for each segment) that coincide with the hands-on lessons >> presented in the press-ready documentation and Moodle course package. >> The individual podcasts / video segments will be made available in the >> .mp4 format for either download via the OpenOffice.org website or, if >> desired, make available via iTunes U. The individual video segments >> would also be combined into a single, unencrypted ISO-9660 file for >> download, where educators and trainers anywhere in the world can burn >> a copy onto a blank DVD for use with a conventional DVD player. > > So that would be a closed series of v-podcasts to accompany the training? > >> - release all documentation under the appropriate licenses and make >> available on the OpenOffice.org Documentation site. >> >> I wanted to get your feedback regarding this project idea and see if >> it would be of benefit to the OpenOffice.org Documentation project. >> >> I want to thank everyone for all of the work you are putting into the >> Documentation project. I look forward to hearing from you regarding >> whether this project idea is needed and of interest to the >> Documentation project. > > This is an awesome idea. It looks like a very consistent training > story that would complement the existing documentation very well. > I would wish to host it on the documentation.oo.o website to allow > centralized access to anyone. > > If we really could get a series of video podcasts or screencasts > going, even outside of your training project we may use multiple > distribution channels: doc.oo.o website, a channel on youtube, and > maybe a channel for miro? I am not too familiar with podcast > distribution, but a subscribable channel would be good. > > What would you need from the rest of us (provided we find some > volunteers to help you out, twinkle twinkle)? > > > Frank > > -- > Frank Peters, Documentation Project Co-Lead The OOo Documentation Project: > SIGN UP - PARTICIPATE - CONTRIBUTE > IT'S FREE! 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