[VBbuilders] Was the Workshop useful? reply to Markus - part 1

[Franz Nahrada]

Dear all!

in the last days I had several conversations especially with Markus and
Marina about the overall evaluation of our January workshop that we can do
much easier now after we all went back to normal and we have some distance
to events.

It is good we draw a clear balance at this time and yes- it is also very
good that we are frank and open, especially because there is still the
feeling that we had discovered some real ground to build on together.

It also will very much influence the fate of our proposed second coming
together.

So thank you ,Markus, for writing me several mails and allowing me to
share my answer in public.

---

The reason this conversation started is because I began to poke some
people, especially Markus, and ask them about filling in the country pages
on Dorfwiki.

http://www.dorfwiki.org/wiki.cgi?VideoBridge/CountryPages

It is there where I wanted to collect the justifications that we can come
together again; giving an overview of VideoBridge related activities that
we can use as the bottomline to propose a Grundtvig Network.

We agreed in Vienna that the foremost condition to do that would be the
start of national or bilateral activities that prove that videobridge is a
reality, that we are working on questions that are raised simultaneously
throughout Europe.

So filling those pages is essential and crucial.

>
On 09.05.10  at 09:22, Mark Petz wrote:
>
>
>[ http://www.dorfwiki.org/wiki.cgi?VideoBridge/Finland
>]http://www.dorfwiki.org/wiki.cgi?VideoBridge/Finland
>
>has no content from me.

I know...
I put in some content to get it started. I considered it a good
encouragement when Annette showed up in Finland.
>
>Also several other pages from other people, because of several reasons
>
>1. Busy people - my case

you can be very brief. I am also very busy and just put in some notes here
http://www.dorfwiki.org/wiki.cgi?VideoBridge/CountryPages/Austria

The idea is that you either state your intentions or the state of
achievements in regard to videobridging between learning communities.

Or it could be related ideas that you want to bring into a network.
>
>2. I don't recall my pass word - and now cannot find a request new one,
>nor where to create a new account.

you dont need a password to edit a page in Dorfwiki.
Just write in your name without a space in the middle, for example
MarkusPetz.
>
>3. Ning or facebook use instead

The wiki is meant to be central permanent repository for structured group
information, the NING and facebook are more socialising places which make
it easier to blog, to discuss, to know who is there.

the mailing list should be for announcements and hints to interesting
developments on one of the online venues. The mailing list is our lowest
common denominator, the wiki in a certain way our highest.

But social networking in between can generate a lot.

-----

Regarding social networking, we are also faced with a grave decision to
make because the time of free NINGs is suddenly over and in Summer
everyone who is not paying will be forced to migrate.

I put some thoughts on this online in the Wiki:

http://www.dorfwiki.org/wiki.cgi?VideoBridge/GrundtvigWorkshop/Discussion_about_NING_migration

We started to experiment with ELGG, an Open Source Social Networking
Solution that looks very promising. We will have a few weeks to run tests.

Another option would be joining with educational networks of similar
directions and form a subgroup there to save costs.

There is a vast choice of video-related educational networks to consider. 

I hope we will be very creative. All in all the NING move was a big wakeup
call that shows more options than we thought of.
>
>4. no instructions in english

you could look at other examples of country pages 
It says on top at
http://www.dorfwiki.org/wiki.cgi?VideoBridge/CountryPages:

"VideoBridge  activities in various countries, especially after the
GrundtvigWorkshop: "

I could add:

"Fill in your own, choose the form you like. Keep it updated."
>
>5. no switch (like a little flag link) to easily find the english page
>from the deutsch

you can find it from our workshop pages
http://www.dorfwiki.org/wiki.cgi?VideoBridge/GrundtvigWorkshop
I just did the flags now so its easier to find!!!

>
>6. lack of clarity what we are supposed to write here - 

Very simply: What you are doing in your national framework about
Videobridging (= NOT about second life filming etc.)

I agreed with Marina that the time currently is too short to justify the
planned meeting in Greece in August sufficiently. We dont have critical
mass yet. That is very sad, but not everything is lost.

More on the issue in my reply to your other  mail.

Franz