Wikipedia:WikiProject United States Public Policy/Courses/Spring 2011/Federal Indian Law and Policy (Kristin Ruppel)/Progress Report (2011-01-31)

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PLEASE NOTE: The .ppt for MSU-Bozeman’s 2nd presentation was too big to email through Google Groups to the Ambassadors. I’ve split it into two parts: Campus_Wikipedia_Literacy_lesson2_part1.ppt and Campus_Wikipedia_Literacy_lesson2_part2.ppt. Part1 accompanies this email.

MSU-Bozeman 2nd presentation was Mon. 31st Jan.

  • All students but one took the survey (it might be a technical issue as the student is sight impaired). Annie worked with the zoomerang folks for a fix and it’s being tested by the student.
  • All had user accounts with about half having created their User pages.
  • This class presentation (see attached and follow-up email with 2nd half) was focused on navigating and creating content. Although we mentioned the handling of images in the first presentation, we decided to cover “images” separately from the second presentation. I mentioned that identifying and handling images is a bit more complex and will be covered within the third presentation.
  • Although I followed the presentation content, I actually used the wikipedia site for the discussion. For example: the slides show the millipede article, but during my presentation I switched from .ppt over to browser and used the actual millipede article to “show and tell.” Same type of scenario when discussing something: I’d show the browser view and give tips on finding things --user:<name>-- and so forth. Professor and I actually used the professor’s account to show how to set-up a user page.
  • Technical snafus? The professor uses a Mac laptop and I’m totally windows or Unix so the Mac interface took me by surprise. But I made a few jokes at my fumbling and the presentation moved along nicely.
  • A lot of answering questions of how things worked and where things are, --everything from creating a user page to adding their names to the class list, to how to find help aids (videos and articles) to finding an online mentor.
  • (BTW: I referenced several basket-of-puppies’ videos as they are short and simple to follow.)
  • Handouts: Welcome to Wikipedia brochure, wikipedia stickers, hardcopy of presentation.
  • Presentation and word-doc of helpful resources were posted on the professor’s course management site.
  • I announced to the class that our academic library has agreed to a trial-sponsorship of the ambassador program for spring semester and will provide an office space to use for regular wikipedia ambassador office hours (2/Wed and 2/Thr).
  • The caveat? We give two presentations to the library staff. The first one will be about what the ambassador program is and will have an overview of different paths to becoming involved with using wikipedia and we’ll handout the “Welcome to Wikipedia” brochure. The first is scheduled for Feb. 17th in the library classroom. The second presentation will be a progress report on the ambassador program and how our class doing. The 2nd presentation will be scheduled sometime just after spring break (end of March sometime).
  • Mike posted the pdf map on how-to-find-the-office on the course page. The professor will also post the map and office hours on the course management site. And we have a sign I created (okayed by library admin) on the office door.
  • So far, the students all have a very high interest, excitement and commitment to use wikipedia to publish scholarly information on Federal Indian Law and Policy. There’s also a genuine curiosity and interest among several library staff as to what “the wikipedia ambassadors” is all about.

Bonnie Mccallum
MSU-Bozeman Libraries
Wikipedia Campus Ambassador
McMormor