Open Source Community Education Prepared after the online interview For Facilitating Online Learning 2008 Graduate Certificate in eLearning Manukau Institute of Technology

Open Source

Community

Education

Open Source Community Education The interview was completed using Skype. Craig facilitated the interview, Bill responded for BISAM. The interview was recorded live, edited and segmented by topic using Audacity. Links to the audio files can be found on http:/craighansensblog.blogspot.com/

Open Source

Community

Education

Client describes the problem or issue BISAM seeks client ideas about solutions that would suit their industry CLIENT has; big idea about industry, small ideas about IT solutions BISAM has; small ideas about the industry, big ideas about IT solutions Provide general advice, book further time for more detailed solutions Google potential solutions, speak with other experts Gain clarification, increased understanding from client of issues in the industry Produce a brief of tools for potential solutions, alternatives from present practice An example from the Print industry was used, describing the need for online ordering . The client thought they would use Scan and email solutions was proposed by client BISAM provided an online option, capturing bookings and provide a ‘proof’ for customers online The outcome provided greater effectiveness (quality/milestones achieved), efficiency (time/dollars) then expected by the client. The Process used by BISAM

Client describes the problem or issue

BISAM seeks client ideas about solutions that would suit their industry

CLIENT has; big idea about industry, small ideas about IT solutions

BISAM has; small ideas about the industry, big ideas about IT solutions

Provide general advice, book further time for more detailed solutions

Google potential solutions, speak with other experts

Gain clarification, increased understanding from client of issues in the industry

Produce a brief of tools for potential solutions, alternatives from present practice

An example from the Print industry was used, describing the need for online ordering . The client thought they would use

Scan and email solutions was proposed by client

BISAM provided an online option, capturing bookings and provide a ‘proof’ for customers online

The outcome provided greater effectiveness (quality/milestones achieved), efficiency (time/dollars) then expected by the client.

We covered: Open source verses freeware Open source software can be developed feely Start a community on the new development Grow a base of developers A completely different product may result The Mambo vs. Jooma was given It was suggested business models can be built on the strategic vision of company, rather than the commercial boundaries set by non-open source owners The role of community in developing open source software was highlighted The CINDEOS CMS vs. site@schools example was given The real power of open source software is the quality of what can be created and the specialisation it can achieve, and can rival commercial products due to user input being extensive, with precise feedback that is implemented. The use of Open Source solutions

We covered:

Open source verses freeware

Open source software can be developed feely

Start a community on the new development

Grow a base of developers

A completely different product may result

The Mambo vs. Jooma was given

It was suggested business models can be built on the strategic vision of company, rather than the commercial boundaries set by non-open source owners

The role of community in developing open source software was highlighted

The CINDEOS CMS vs. site@schools example was given

The real power of open source software is the quality of what can be created and the specialisation it can achieve, and can rival commercial products due to user input being extensive, with precise feedback that is implemented.

Key Points Straight forward to install Easy to use, intuitive to create content and modify Cost effectiveness of set up and ready to go being $300 to $500 in total Users set up Themes and modules and plug ins installed and ready to go Ready to use Drupal installs have organic groups, though do need more precise control levels of page development Jooma as an alternative was discussed, not as powerful for collaboration as Drupal. Jooma has attractive templates that look clean, slick, tidy. The time commitment needed to keep a Drupal website looking good is a factor Commercial use of Drupal by very large publishing and media organisations (Fast Company) The use of Drupal as a CMS

Key Points

Straight forward to install

Easy to use, intuitive to create content and modify

Cost effectiveness of set up and ready to go being $300 to $500 in total

Users set up

Themes and modules and plug ins installed and ready to go

Ready to use

Drupal installs have organic groups, though do need more precise control levels of page development

Jooma as an alternative was discussed, not as powerful for collaboration as Drupal.

Jooma has attractive templates that look clean, slick, tidy.

The time commitment needed to keep a Drupal website looking good is a factor

Commercial use of Drupal by very large publishing and media organisations (Fast Company)

Managing updates – be mindful of Compatibility with content Time consuming compared with initial install Security updates could be a lower level of priority Back ups of users and content is highly important – of the server and a local back up Must-have updates should be done keep things cost effective The update cost can be reduced by only installing updates that provide both functionality and security revisions The updates issue

Managing updates – be mindful of

Compatibility with content

Time consuming compared with initial install

Security updates could be a lower level of priority

Back ups of users and content is highly important – of the server and a local back up

Must-have updates should be done keep things cost effective

The update cost can be reduced by only installing updates that provide both functionality and security revisions

Organic groups with Drupal Self developing, maintaining, enabling Set authority levels, authentication Organic Groups

Organic groups with Drupal

Self developing, maintaining, enabling

Set authority levels, authentication

Wikis provide the opportunity for people to: Contribute ideas, learning, experiences Add, Modify, Share contributions on a global platform Wikis may contain a variety of contributions: Subjective thoughts on topics or events, Perceptions or viewpoints, Perspectives and opinions, Facts – verifiable information with dates, times, events, people and contributions that can be substantiated Wikis can track how the contributions have developed over time: Versions showing how alterations were made; like an editing track History – showing who, what, when, how and possibly why changes were made The capability to refer back to previous versions to identify the workflow and To understand the development of knowledge as a whole Wikis

Wikis provide the opportunity for people to:

Contribute ideas, learning, experiences

Add, Modify, Share contributions on a global platform

Wikis may contain a variety of contributions:

Subjective thoughts on topics or events, Perceptions or viewpoints, Perspectives and opinions,

Facts – verifiable information with dates, times, events, people and contributions that can be substantiated

Wikis can track how the contributions have developed over time:

Versions showing how alterations were made; like an editing track

History – showing who, what, when, how and possibly why changes were made

The capability to refer back to previous versions to identify the workflow and

To understand the development of knowledge as a whole

Check out http:/craighansensblog.blogspot.com/