Subject: Re: [wp-edu] WordPress for Education Implementation Guide

[Jane Wells]

I agree with idea that a PDF brochure makes it seem more static than  
dynamic, but I do think there's a case to be made for something people  
could print out during the course of their research to show to the  
people with the rubber stamps who don't want to sift through web sites  
for information. I'd suggest putting a web site with a nice print  
stylesheet, so that individual pages could be printed (like the one- 
off idea) or a site overview could be printed to form a more detailed  
booklet. This way, updating the site would keep PDFs updated with the  
most current information. With a new version of WordPress ever 4  
months or so, anything we can do to keep information current will be  
helpful.
Jane


On Nov 19, 2008, at 9:35 AM, Thomas W. Woodward wrote:

> I buy the idea of making this information available to help  
> arguments for using WP in educational settings- in part because I've  
> had to make these arguments.  (Although I wonder a little if it  
> strips those who are using pre-packaged arguments of a needed chance  
> to research and really internalize why they want to do this and what  
> it would take.)  It does help to have the outside "expert" as a  
> voice on your side and some people would be able to explain the  
> educational side but would be unable to make the server architecture  
> argument.
>
> I think the idea of creating a pdf is a mistake in and off itself  
> (at least as a main vehicle).  PDFs kind of embody the opposite of  
> what WPMU is good at, being that they're (mostly) fixed and don't  
> leverage RSS or community very well (at all? I'm not sure since I  
> didn't go to the NMC Adobe- Collaboration in the Cloud thing).
>
> If I was trying to prove how useful WPMU is in education I'd use  
> WPMU as the vehicle.  It'd be a lot like what Jim has done with with  
> WMU blogs in certain aspects, in that your site would become an  
> aggregation area for both examples of and instruction on how and why  
> you'd use WPMU in an educational setting.
>
> I'd probably have an "all-stars" page where I highlighted whole WPMU  
> sites or particularly effective node blogs but I'd want a constant  
> stream of new content flowing through as well.  There's some risk  
> there.  You aren't fully in control of what might come in via the  
> feeds but I think that's a good thing.
>
> Maybe you make a few one page PDFs every so often that encapsulate  
> key chunks of knowledge or common argument rebuttals but they should  
> not stick around for years- maybe you could have one of the wiki  
> plugins used and then auto-generate a pdf off a certain page every  
> so often (could be a downside to that with regard to formatting but  
> it'd probably equal out in terms of participation and quality of  
> information).
>
> I can see value in this and I can see what Jim is worried about.   
> You don't want to become the company with a slick sales pitch.  Let  
> the community speak for you and provide you with examples and you'll  
> have something authentic and powerful- start making big PDF ad  
> pitches and I think you'll lose credibility.  Besides if you are  
> pitching to the higher ups the PDF would probably consist of two  
> sections- cost and security.
>
> Doing this would give you the chance to help improve the community  
> in some interesting ways and provide a center for an ongoing  
> conversation that will continue to grow and impact many more people  
> than a PDF ever would.  Make it a conversation not a sales pitch.   
> It is a lot of work to do it this way but it's also a different kind  
> of work and work that'll produce more benefits for a much broader  
> range of people.
>
> To look at the original table of contents and rethink it some-
>> Welcome to WordPress for Education - I'd have a fair amount flowing  
>> into the front page in terms of highlighted posts/sites/etc
>> What is WordPress/Education Overview - these two ought to overlap  
>> in terms of how WP can enable X and Y in education
>> Who uses WordPress? - mass list with custom fields to give  
>> screenshot of main page (sortable/selectable by ed institute type?)
>> Cost - not sure how you'd calculate that- software is free but  
>> upkeep/servers/etc would really depend on usage and a lot of  
>> factors that'd be a little difficult to quantify across schools-  
>> maybe case study examples?
>   Security- this is one of the major ways this type of thing gets  
> shut down and that includes php security as well
>> WordPress in Action - I'd do profiles and tag/categorize based on  
>> k12 or higher ed etc. - the more meta the better
>> Getting Started With WordPress - tutorials? but you'd need  
>> different levels/kinds for different types of users - admins,  
>> designers, teachers, students
>>
>
>
> Maybe I'm viewing this with stars in my eyes and possibly different  
> goals but that'd be my approach-
>
>
> Tom
>
>
> On Nov 19, 2008, at 12:53 AM, wp-edu-request at lists.automattic.com  
> wrote:
>
>> Subject: Re: [wp-edu] WordPress for Education Implementation Guide
>
> Tom Woodward
> HCPS Staff Development
> http://bionicteaching.com
>
>
>> Welcome to WordPress for Education
>> Table of Contents
>> What is WordPress?
>> Who uses WordPress?
>> Cost
>> WordPress for Education Overview
>> How WordPress Can Be Used at Your School
>> WordPress on the Campus
>> WordPress in the Classroom
>> Getting Stated With WordPress
>> Where to Get Additional Information
>
>
>
>
>
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