Talk:Education/Newsletter/June 2014/Wiki Education Foundation attends WikiConference USA

Discussion of the slides

@LiAnna (Wiki Ed), Jami (Wiki Ed): I'm disappointed that only the slides were provided. I suspect the talk that was given was more illuminating. I did notice a point about working with the professors about the course design. I've been a campus ambassador for a few semesters now and this is first heard on my end. I don't interact with the professor until the course has already been approved. In the past I've given professors my two cents about what they should be doing but ultimately they're employed by some institute of higher learning and I'm just some guy in a blue Wikipedia polo shirt. While I wholeheartedly agree that we need more input and control on course design, I've never been involved when the class is being put together nor do I have any leverage over the professor. Is this well-meaning advice meant for someone else or do you suggest I change my strategy? Chris troutman (talk) 06:07, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

@Chris troutman: All the sessions were recorded, and I know the conference organizers are working hard at getting the video up somewhere so people can see the talks. I'll also be giving the talk at Wikimania this year, so if you happen to be coming to that, you're welcome to come hear it there! In terms of the specifics of how the program works, Jami can speak to the particular classes you've worked with in the past, but I will say that if you're in contact with an instructors after the course is "approved", that means that someone has already worked with them on assignment design. LiAnna (Wiki Ed) (talk) 16:06, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

@Chris troutman: We have been moving more toward assignment design over the past few terms, and that typically either comes from an Ambassador or me. Most instructors in the program have spoken with somebody to make sure their assignment, at the very least, will fit in with Wikipedia norms. I'd be happy to set up a meeting to talk with you more about assignment design if you're interested in supporting instructors in that way before the term starts! Let me know. :) Jami (Wiki Ed) (talk) 00:19, 17 June 2014 (UTC)

@LiAnna (Wiki Ed), Jami (Wiki Ed): Thanks for your replies. I'm eager to see that video when it's available. Sadly, I can't attend Wikimania this year. Yes, Jami, I'd like discuss interacting with instructors before their classes start. Please let me know when would work for you; my schedule is relatively open for the next couple weeks. Chris troutman (talk) 17:44, 21 June 2014 (UTC)