Free/Open Source Forum Software

I have a thing for vanilla - especially the feel of the smooth, silky pods and the scent of the tiny black seeds. They sell vanilla pod bundles like these in the chaotic food markets in Madagascar - so the word 'vanilla' makes me melt! Vanilla costs a small fortune in SA - but not in Madagascar, where it sells for almost nothing. It would seem that this "almost for nothing" characteristic is carried over into some Forum software. Imagine my absolute surprise and wonderment when the web designer I had met with, pointed out that free/open source forums existed and they could be customised! This had simply not occurred to me. Perhaps if I had spent more time on the Design and Development phases of Instructional Development, I would maybe have figured this out! One of the freely available forums is one called 'Vanilla Forums' - it looks and sounds awesome! I have the bad habit of being swung by a name (I have just chosen my new bicycle frame colour, partly because of the name - moondust grey! hehe) - so I thought it best to investigate if there was more to this software than just a pretty name!  A short search later, and bingo - there are stacks of free/open source forums available, and it is probably just a matter of figuring out which one will meet our requirements in terms of the forum objectives. Check out this forum and wiki comparison site: http://www.forummatrix.org/. It compares things that I have never heard of, but probably need to start understanding!

My chosen intervention: The Internet Forum

How To Behave On An Internet Forum

My first exposure to an internet forum was a few years ago when my husband joined a cycling internet forum The HubSA. I anonymously followed many of the discussion threads, and I was learning all sorts of things about cycling that I had not previously known. It was fascinating. My husband also learnt a few things over the years - the most beneficial of which was learning how to service our bicycles; how to actually build his own custom bicycle and which races were a must-do!

Until recently, I had simply forgotten the power of this intervention in promoting social interaction and learning. Now that an internet forum is my chosen e-learning intervention (see previous post), I have been trying to focus my reading on this. I came across this hilarious clip on Internet Forum Etiquette - if you have an interest in internet forums, it is well worth the 3mins and 28 seconds it will take to view :-)

My e-learning timeline

The time has come to actually commit my e-learning intervention 'to paper' and construct the ideas swimming around in my head. After much to-and-fro, backwards-and-forwards, I finally have it!

My e-learning growth timeline is not nearly as impressive as this Timeline of Social Media:

And it's probably accurate to say that my timeline started before this course, but for the sake of brevity (and the fact that I need to get back to actually writing up the assignment!), I have only focussed on my recent e-learning timeline developments:

Week 1-2: If I develop a really cool website that simplifies the concepts involved in the Best Care...Always! campaign, then I will promote learning;

Week 3-4: If I move the website over to a wikispace site, everyone will want to get involved by editing the content, and this will promote learning through collaboration;
Week 4-5: If I adapt some current PowerPoint presentations to flash technology, I will promote learning;

The FINAL week: If I create a discussion forum on the website following careful instructional design, there is a very good chance that I will create an e-learning intervention that really will promote unlimited learning.

What has been quite difficult for me is the pace of learning required - it has often felt like there is a whole world out there, but not enough time to explore it within the parameters of this module. I needed to be more focussed in my learning - but having said that, it has been a fantastic journey.

"A" stands for Apple and Analysis

We all had "A is for Apple" drummed into us in our youth.  But how did the teacher bridge the gap between me knowing the letters of the alphabet and me being able to read? It got me thinking - if I was a primary school teacher, how would I design an e-learning course for the purpose of enabling reading?  It must be possible - my imagination has just not stretched that far yet....

There are a few things I'm starting to realise with this ADDIE Model:

1. It provides a roadmap for us novice e-learning instructional designers to find our way
2. All the phases are intertwined and interconnected like an inner city maze
3. An in-depth analysis should provide you with clear objectives so that you don't get lost 
4. There is a lot of tempting fruit in the form of bells and whistles to lead you astray
5. Ultimately, we need to know where the learners are and where they need to be
6. My E-learning intervention needs to be the bridge between their present knowledge and their desired knowledge.

I also don't think there's any room for vagueness when determining the aim of my e-learning project. 
I need to be quite specific in the analysis of my objectives and the activities and experiences that will facilitate learning on an "e" platform.  I'm having trouble determining exactly what my aim is.  My grand plan is to sleep on it tonight and tackle this again tomorrow.

wikis for everyone

In one of my first ramblings on this blog, I shared with you my desire to create a microbiology e-learning module especially aimed at Nurses in hospital acute care settings.  Surveillance of infections is vital to the success of any infection prevention and control programme - but such surveillance requires more than just a passable microbiology knowledge.  


There was a constant nagging feeling that I was taking on too much as my first e-learning attempt. I have had to come to terms with the fact that there are time restrictions to this assignment, but more importantly, I too have only a passable microbiology knowledge. It is simply not feasible for me to create an e-learning module around something that I still need to master myself over time.


I recently volunteered to be the webmaster of the Best Care...Always Campaign website (it's remarkable what madness envelops you when you anticipate being an e-learning guru come 10 August!) hehehe.  It gets even madder - I volunteered to re-build the site content on Wikispaces so that the website could really promote collaberation and learning.  Wiki's are a learning theorist's greatest dream - they have the ability to promote Constructivism, Cognitivism and Behaviourism through collaberation, interaction and distribution of learning. 


My enthusiasm and volunteerism often exceed my capacity, and this was starting to feel like one such venture. I am usually incredibly quick to volunteer - but then I ruminate (chew the cud) for an extended period of time before I am willing to put something down on paper  (in this case, the blogosphere). 
Don't worry JP - re-building the site content is not my e-learning project - that project was started by a fellow campaigner a few weeks ago, and I think he has made a fantastic start - check out http://www.bca.wikispaces.net/. I have tentatively prodded and poked and decided to take baby steps instead, by elaborating on one of the specific campaign initiatives - Preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). If you've clicked on the link and navigated to this page on the BCA wikispace, you will see that there are a few introductory paragraphs and then two resources for down-loading.  The first is a one-pager which gives a synopsis of the CLABSI bundle; and the second is a 62 page 'Get Started kit' - and that is it. Having gone through this process myself, I know that it is pretty overwhelming - it discourages even the toughest amongst us.  


I have done a lot of teaching around the CLABSI bundle, and I believe I have the knowledge and skills to simplify and convey the key messages and teachings around this important concept.


This may not have been a completely Zen analysis, but at least I have committed some of my thoughts to the giant blogosphere before rushing off to watch the last mountain stage of the Tour de France......Go Andy, Go!!!!!

Meeting the Millenium Development Goals for Health

I had the most incredible experience last night. My boss asked me to stand in for her at a roundtable meeting of Healthcare Stakeholders sponsored by Philips. Delegates were invited to discuss how the Private and Public Healthcare sectors could collaborate to meet the Millenium Development Goals for Health. I had very little expectation of this meeting, and honestly thought that I would be able to sit anonymously listening and learning. The venue was the ballroom at Kelvin Grove - so I had reasonable expectations of many people in attendance. This was not so. And I am slowly learning that one should never assume anything. I need to reclaim the Girl Guide Motto of Be Prepared! There were only eight people in attendance - including the chair of Dimension Data, the Director of a Medical Information Technology Company (Geomed), the chair of the Radiology Society, the vice-chair of the Medical Devices Society.....the list goes on and on! 

I felt pretty intimidated as each person was introduced together with their credentials and "what they bring to the table" (as read out by Bongani Bingwa of Carte Blanche Medical fame). When it was my turn, my little heart was pounding. I have no impressive affiliations or qualifications, but I soon realised that what I brought to the table was a passion for healthcare and a little bit of knowledge about Education! I have never been more grateful that I embarked on this MPhil HSE journey (but really wish I had applied myself more in certain areas!).

If you've read this far (you deserve a medal), and you are about to be rewarded with some amazing technology solutions that were touched on at this meeting (well maybe). There was a big emphasis on the development of mobile applications for healthcare. Apparently a Mobile Applications Lab is being established in Africa - you can only begin to imagine the scope of these applications for improved healthcare and education! 

Check out this Stellenbosch-based technology information company Geomed - it is truly phenomenal how they are using mobile technology to assist health care practitioners and ultimately to improve healthcare. 

I know that I am only at the very beginning of this e-learning journey, but it feels like it is gonna be one helluva ride!

Jumping on a speeding train

There is nothing worse than the feeling you get when you think you may have missed your mode of transport. This is how I felt when I started playing catch-up this afternoon. I can't believe I almost missed the ADDIE train en route to the beautiful towns of Clarity and Insight.

I have just managed to jump on the train, and whilst catching my breath and holding onto the handgrips (via Google Reader), this train accelerated at an astounding pace and passed through some pretty dark tunnels. I was just able to hold onto those handgrips with something resembling a death-grip and am glad to report that I have arrived safely at the town of I'm-Going-To-Be-Ok. I only arrived here in one piece because of all your blog postings (thank you).

There are many amazing aspects to this train trip (according to the MPhil e-Learning brochure), but as all students inevitably must learn - the trip can only be enjoyed if you have an idea of your final destination and if you don't try and jump on the train as the doors are closing and it is leaving the station.

I'm back on that train and am beginning to enjoy the journey once again. I started looking at some of the sites recommended in the e-learning PPP, and one that I am finding particularly interesting is Big Dog Little Dog

If you do nothing else, at least scroll down and check out his take on "ADDIE and the 5 Rules of Zen". Very refreshing.

Well, the train is safely in the station for now, and this commuter has decided to take a taxi to the town of Analysis. I plan to visit all the tourist destinations (and spots off the beaten track), and the grand plan is not to miss the trips up north to Design and Development!