Well it has been a while since my last post.... (feels like a confession). Been busy with 'doing the do', juggling work, annual leave over Christmas and not to mention renovating a house, that my blogging has slipped.

Well we finally got to finish our Wiki, I helped Canan create Project Plans in MS project for the implemention plan. That was nightmare in itself in trying to PDF them so that eveyone could access them.... That is the only thing with posting native files on to the Wiki as anyone reading them must have the software application loaded on their machine. So where possible we have tried to PDF or use Word, as most people with have these.

It was quite tasking toward the end trying to co-ordinate everyone for meetings over the Christmas break and annual leave committments, but we got there!

Over all I am happy with the way that it all looks. I would have loved to have done more, but with work committments it didn't leave much time to 'pretty' things up.

I must admit, that I found the Wiki ok, but as I have said before I think it would be better to have a 'collaborative tool suite' in which to work. Something where you an blog, wiki etc all in the same place. It is hard trying to keep track of things over so many applications.

I did enjoy the experience, although I found it confusing at times exactly what we needed to get done. However it was good to get back into doing the learning instead of creating it!

Well it has been ages since my last post... My team has successfully implemented another 5 online training modules to the business and Authorised Representatives. I am so hating Saba LMS for not allowing bulk upload of enrolements... anyhoo.

We have had some major setbacks with our assessment task in co-ordinating meetings with some unexpected leave etc. Nothing that anyone could help or plan for, but we are again in the hot seat to get this finished on time.

On reflection of the technology we are using, I have found it frustrating that I have to add yet another piece (i.e. Wiki's and Blogs) to my ever expanding box of tricks to use. It's the same in the L&D department here at work, there are so many things to continually check e.g. shared drives, edna groups, pint point, edge etc. I feel like I need a PA just to keep tabs on it all. Now wouldn't it be briliant if someone were to invent an LMS where it could all be tied in... Perhaps a landing page with a summary of what has changed in the different areas and links to all the different tools. More than enhancing my workflow processes, I think it is inhibiting it. The administration behind keeping up with all the bits and pieces is a nightmare. What happened to the good old central repository :) (gest)

Any way, Kathy and I need to get on with UAT on the restaurant and travel pieces. I think we will deploy travel on the shared drive due to the link problem Karla identified. However I would like to keep the restaurant one on edge as a true reflection of how courses would be deployed at IAG. I'll see what Kathy thinks.

Off to it

Well it has been some time since my last post. My group got together last week to discuss Anne's feedback in the UTAS Announcements and to look at where we need to move forward. I think we have got a lot of good discussion going in the Wiki, and am pleased on what I have prepared for the team.

On reflection, I thought it might be good to pose how I found the Wiki experience and some of its advantages and disadvantages.

I think the main advantage of the Wiki is the ability to work collaboratively in the one space. Being able to upload documents to link to for further reading and research is also a bonus to this software. Of course the 'no programming ability' required also lends itself to all levels of experience. However I could understand that people may become frustrated in trying to link documents etc if they don't have a basic understanding of technology.

Disadvantages for me included finding the time at work to get this done, althought that is not a direct disadvantage to the software. I was perplexed by some of the Wiki's basic rules such as automatic links where captials are followed by lowercase. This was found when typing in Liz's surname which started with McC. The Wiki wanted to link her name because of this rule, but was not necessary, and was not able to find any documentation to unlink. The only way I could over come this was add a space in her name.
I think the most frustrating part of the Wiki for me, was to collate information which I already had into the common space. Most of the information we had could possibly have been collated in a Shared network drive or Microsoft Sharepoint... Is there really an advantage to this in using Wiki's? Of course this type of collaboration also requires internet access... what about organisations that lock down their networks from using internet traffic? Even at IAG we have restrictions on audio and video files travelling on our network. I really think the L&D department (us as a whole) need to negotiate and influence our IT department over this rule. There can be so many positives that come out of video and sound files in a learning context.
I can also see how frustrating it could be for learners to jump from one website to another. Would it not be great to have a single point of contact where you can Wiki, Blog, Dicussion Forum and launch Learning content from a single portal!?

Anyway my judgement on the use of Wikis in a Learning environment is still out at the moment. I am not overly convinced of its advantages over other forms of collaboration or assessment tools. Perhaps my opinions may change over a longer period of exposure.... We will wait and see...

Well.... thank goodness I have completed by page on IT Infrastructure. I found it quite interesting of how much you actually need to consider around technology once you right it down. Ususally I do all these sort of checks in my head when developing online modules and it was amazing to see how much information my brain processes without even thinking about it! Its a bit like speaking another language you get so familiar with it you just speak it without the need to translate in your head.

I have just one task left on the Wiki and that's the Implementation Plan. The team have decided to get together next week to provide Canan and I with what they would like to see in the plan, main headings etc.

Well another day and the team has caught up again via video conference to check where we are all at with the Wiki.

Everything seems to be trailblazin' along with the Wiki indeed looking bigger than it did two weeks ago. Full of information that we have collected.

We have now set deadlines of when we will need to finalise things before our next workshop which only seems to be round the corner. Canan and I still have some work to do around the implementation plan, but I have almost finished my piece on IT Infrastructure. I am fairly pleased with it, but just need to add a few more tweaks.

I received an email from Karla today asking how to get links to files to work in the Wiki today. I think it's great that the group is collaborating with each other and helping one another through this process. There are a nuber of designers on the team, that can help what I call 'the strategic' thinkers in how to do this detail stuff. I am also thankful they are around because 'big picture' strategy stuff really isn't my forte. I am much in my comfort zone around detail of how online modules work and learner interactions etc.

Anyhoo, back to the Wiki more to do.

Well today has been the catch up day for me I have finally gotten around to all the tasks that I needed to do on UTS online. I must say it has been rather quiet in the office today, so I was a great time to get this stuff done. I am also in a quiet spot at the moment for my day to day stuff with the review team looking over scripts for online modules so it's a relief to get it all finished.
I have since seen in to the Wiki our group and found how to change skins. So our Wiki now looks funky which I am happy with... I also created the bear pages and a simplistic template so our group could start posting their discussion. This was a great sense of achievement in itself so I don't hold anyone up.

Thanks for your post ABB yes I know Wiki text is more simplistic than HTML, but I've just become lazy over the years with developer tools like frontpage and golive :)

Anyhoo best I get going and update my Wiki page now so the others can comment on it.

Well the ganag (Liz, Canan, Karla, Kathy and myself) got together last week and assigned tasks to took after for our assessment.

A few technology problems later, and we all had our tasks assigned to us. My main task is to look after the techology requirements for e-learning. Luckily for me, I have already done a lot of research into this at IAG... I am working on a project to create 53 on-line modules of training for our Commercial Insurance products. So this should be a great head start for me.

The only issues that I can see arrise is that the business is not as structured as it should be when it comes to IT infractructure, and although we have a Standard Operating Environment (SOE) in reality when you get out in the field it is not constant. But that's ok, it's something to add to the paper.

I have tried programming the wiki over the last couple of days, and have found it extremely frustrating. I can't remember the last time I had to program in code. HTML editiors that use a WYSIWIG environement have been around for years, and I have certainly lost my patience with getting things to look right on screen in basic code. I must give it another crack today, so the other guys can post on to the Wiki.

Finding it extremely tough to time manage at the moment with online modules being created, implementing and enrolling learners into modules which are complete, reporting, day to day work, and now stretches required to meet my STI targets. Must focus and soldier on like Codral.