Re: Draft framework

Ross Gardler wrote:
> Allan Samaroo wrote:
> 
>> The following is the draft framework that Anil and I worked on 
>> yesterday.  The wording for some points may be a little coarse, but i 
>> hope it is sufficient at this stage for the points to get across. 
> 
> 
> This is looking good, thanks for taking the time to write it up for the 
> list.
> 
> Some comments...
> 
>> => Cost of software tools / licenses, e.g. Frontpage, Dreamweaver, etc.
>> ** Existing tools, e.g. Open Office or MS Word/Powerpoint can be used 
>> to develop contennt, hence no purchase of software is necessary. 
>> Burrokeet, a free software application, will be used to generate the 
>> website, and also upload the website to the webserver.
> 
> 
> Burrokeet does not currently upload to the server at the click of a 
> button, there are also other features that are not implemented yet 
> (remember we are at version 0.1rc1). If you are going to make these 
> promises then you better be sure that the resources are available to 
> make such promised functionality work in Burrokeet.

Anil as assured me that this functionality can be done in a few minutes. 
To use the Burrokeet is basically a three step process.

1. Develop content (OOo/Word)
2. Generate content (Burrokeet)
3. Upload to webserver (FTP Client)

It makes sense to integrate step 3 as part of the package for schools as 
the upload would be transparent to the user and this adds to the user 
friendliness of the solution.

> 
> Now that you have a use case you need to clearly identify the most 
> important functionality and get them into the Burrokeet Requests for 
> Enhancements 
> (http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=104679&atid=638902 ). Note 
> these are *requests* not demands, the only way to be sure your 
> requirements are met is to help implement your required features, 
> therefore it would be even better if those members of CIS who are 
> technical can join the dev list 
> (http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=104679 ) and help to satisfy some 
> of those requirements.

As Anil is already part of the dev list, he can manage those Burrokeet 
aspects on our behalf during this pilot project.  Mind you, I've not 
said this to discourage anyone from joining the dev list now if they want.


> 
>> => Cost for maintenance / technical support.
>> ** The CIS will provide support for the Burrokeet.
> 
> 
> Remember there are two levels of support: face-to-face support, which 
> will be provided by CIS and online support. Online is is where CIS will 
> get its support and also where your clients should be encouraged to go 
> in order to reduce the workload on your own support mechanisms.

Okay, yes and no.  The clients (schools in this case) will be given the 
option, but can't be expected to do so at this time.


> The Burrokeet project is the place to provide (online) support not CIS. 
> This may be what you mean, but I just want to clarify.

Online support was never brought up because most of the schools aren't 
even online right now.  One of the objectives is to gently nudge them in 
that direction.

> 
> Burrokeet has lists available for user support (they are not public yet 
> as we are not currently encouraging users, but it is only a click of a 
> button to make them public). Members of CIS should provide whatever 
> support they want through those channels not through CIS online 
> facilities. The reasons for this are simple and numerous, most 
> significantly:
> 
> Burrokeet needs to generate a community. By having CIS fracture that 
> community by taking some users elsewhere you will be harming the 
> Burrokeet project.

Ridiculous.  We are not going to provide online support ever.  That's 
like providing online support for Apache, OOo, etc.

All CIS support will be face-to-face.


> As the community develops the level of user support available in 
> Burrokeet will be higher than can be provided here in CIS (we have the 
> expertise in Burrokeet, CIS does not).
> 

Exactly!


> My own top priority over the next twelve months is to ensure that 
> Burrokeet develops that community. We now have our first release, we are 
> starting to get press and we have been featured in many blogs over the 
> last few weeks. Furthermore, we are hoping to publish a book on 
> Burrokeet towards the end of next year. If you look at our statistics 
> page on the Sourceforge website you will see that activity in the 
> project is really starting to ramp up, only half way through this month 
> and we have already surpassed October (our second most active month) and 
> are closing rapidly on November (our most active):
> 
> http://sourceforge.net/project/stats/index.php?report=months&group_id=104679 
> 
> 
> Please help us to further develop the Burrokeet community by ensuring 
> your clients use the correct channels for getting online support.
> 

That's no problem.  But it brings up an interesing question that I'll 
address in a new thread on this list and the TTLUG.


>> => Cost / time factor.
>> ** The CIS cannot control the amount of time one may take to develop 
>> content using open office or ms word.  However, using the Burrokeet to 
>> generate the website is simple enough to complete within a few minutes.
> 
> 
> [OT] why do you refer to Burrokeet as "the" Burrokeet. I have no 
> objection, actually I quite like it, I was just wondering if there is a 
> linguistic reason for it.
> 

No conscious reason.


>> => Cost for web hosting.
>> ** Through Trinihosting.com, free webspace will be provided for a year.
> 
> 
> What happens after that?

Not sure yet.  Anil will have to address that.

> 
>> => Availability of resources to develop content, generate the website 
>> and posting the website on the Internet.
>> ** This cannot be managed by the CIS as it deals with how the school 
>> mannages its teachers' time, allocation of computer time, and such 
>> related matters.
> 
> 
> Probably worth saying that you imagine the most effective way to create 
> content is through the normal administrative channels and normal IT 
> curriculum.
> 
> For example,
> 
> * secretary creates a newsletter in Open Office/MS Word which is drag 
> and dropped into Burrokeet and therefore available on the web (possibly 
> a password protected portion)
> 
> * students are learning to use a word processor, their work is placed 
> online, again by drag and drop into Burrokeet
> 

The initial idea is to train the comp sci teacher how to use it as we 
assume that person would be the most technically caapable.  I understand 
this assumption does not hold for some schools, but that is not a 
concern right now.



>> => Content.
>> ** The CIS can only suggest viable content topics.
> 
> 
> I believe you are aiming very low here. There is a *huge* range of 
> materials out there that can be reproduced on school websites and that 
> Burrokeet can easily incorporate. Shouldn't CIS be collating a catalogue 
> of such resources in cooperation with the schools. I understand that 
> many will not be applicable to the Caribbean but I am sure many others 
> will be.
> 

Can you give us some examples, links etc to these materials.



>> 4.  The demonstration would be an actual live demonstration with the 
>> presenter developing a sample page and then generating the website 
>> using Burrokeet.  A template would be developed prior to the 
>> presentation day.
> 
> 
> I look forward to seeing whoever is going to develop this template on 
> the Burrokeet lists asking for help in creating this template. You are 
> assured of my assistance through those channels.
> 

Anil has this responsibility.

Thanks for the comments Ross.  I've tried to address the comments in a 
way which will separate and maintain a separation of the roles and 
responsibilities of the CIS and the Burrokeet.  This is kinda tricky as 
we have members in both projects.  However, I hope it has been clear enough.


Allan.

Visit the CIS Project on the WWW:  http://www.cis.org.tt

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