[SeasonOfDocs] How should we focus OSGeo training within SeasonOfDocs?

Thu May 23 05:57:30 PDT 2019

Hi Ori, (CCing OSGeo SeasonOfDocs with permission),

Yes, based on how things are shaping up, I'm reasonably comfortable that 
we will be creating a method/framework/template/writing guide for 
creating certain doc types - almost certainly covering training 
material. I'm expecting Jared Morgan is going to be really helpful in 
this regard, as he is deeply embedded in the WriteTheDocs community and 
should be able to help us tap into great insights here.

I see us testing these on QGIS and GeoNetwork and OSGeoLive within the 
SeasonOfDocs timeframe. People have volunteered to help with content 
writing - although not to the volume required to create a course from 
scratch. This is where we need to start talking about existing material 
to draw upon.

Re "Protecting" material or not. This is a decision for you to make 
internally. I feel that any material worked on in this project should be 
developed under an Open License (probably CC-By-SA). I think you will 
find that people are keen to volunteer to contribute to open material 
but not to contribute to something that leads to a lock out situation. 
Decision comes down to free content + get free labour, or lock down 
content and pay for your own labour. More comprehensive description of 
this business case is here: 
http://cameronshorter.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-open-business-business-case.html

For the more nitty-gritty details about content to create, and who does 
what and when, I'm looking for input from you folk actively involved in 
GIS training to discuss this together. Don't be shy, do speak up.

Cheers, Cameron

On 23/5/19 4:34 pm, Ori Gudes wrote:
>
> Hi Cameron,
>
> Thanks for your detailed email, I believe there are many valid points 
> here, and at this stage I did not address all of them.
>
> I think for a start, we do need to identify what is our _collaborative 
> vision_ here? As this will derive everything we do. Do we develop a 
> method / a framework in which training materials can be easily updated 
> or maintained? Are we focused only on QGIS? Or also other open Geo 
> projects?
>
> How can we  protect our content? Ultimately, what we would like to 
> achieve, having all partners  / technical writers / capacity involved? 
> What is achievable in the time frame of 6 months? Do we need to have 
> focus groups based on certain tools / products? (e.g., QGIS, other 
> open source tools etc. ). I think these are critical points / 
> questions need to be asked/ discussed/ answered before we move on and 
> discuss about writing, style technical details etc.
>
> Feel free to share my response if it adds anything?
>
> Regards Ori
>
> On Sun, 19 May 2019 at 09:18, Cameron Shorter 
> <cameron.shorter at gmail.com <mailto:cameron.shorter at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     OSGeo Season of Docs folks, (BCCed to a few potential collaborators),
>
>     As you know, the OSGeo Foundation will be allocated 1 paid
>     technical writer, for equivalent of ~ 3 months (probably spread
>     over 6), as part of Google's commitment to Season of Docs [0].
>
>     But more valuable are the 18+ serious volunteers (on this list)
>     wanting to be involved, and 5+ QGIS training material baselines
>     that we can potentially build upon. [1] I'm hoping to discuss
>     these baselines within this email thread and build a collaborative
>     vision which focuses our Season of Docs direction.
>
>     (Chris, Ori, Scott from Uni of NSW), Charlie from Uni of
>     Massachusetts, Piers from Gaia Resources, Jo from Austun
>     Technology, Matteo from QGIS docs, Nick from Uni College of
>     London, Phil from GeoAcademy: You all have mentioned training
>     material that you might be able to access. I'm hoping you might
>     restate your ideas here. (Cut and paste from before is fine).
>
>     My observations so far (based on input so far):
>
>     * We have multiple offers of material to start from, but less
>     interest in building from someone else's material.
>
>     * We all find it hard to sustain the maintenance of material,
>     acknowledging the rapid innovation of QGIS (and other OSGeo
>     projects). We'd all love external help updating our material.
>
>     * We are all concerned about the free-rider problem. We are
>     mindful that collaborators in material development are potential
>     competitors for students (and hence funding). Our organisation's
>     reputation is an important part of this story.
>
>     * We need to balance generic content that is easy to maintain
>     versus use case specific training for targeted customers.
>     (Especially important around local maps and datums used).
>
>     * It seems like there is core functionality that we can probably
>     all agree to use as a starting point for collaboration. What is
>     it? This might be our best pilot focus area.
>
>     * We could also define a best practices formula for building
>     training material that we all adopt, addressing structure, writing
>     style, etc. This is something a senior technical writer could
>     define, (and could be extended to other OSGeo projects and to the
>     greater Open Source community). This would help students who are
>     progressing through multiple training courses as they'd become
>     familiar with writing styles. Would you be prepared to adopt such
>     a guide (assuming it is better than what you already have)?
>
>     * We'll need to agree on a license that everyone can use, probably
>     Creative Commons by Attribution.
>
>     So for those of you wanting to collaborate around training
>     material - how can we help you do that? How can you help others?
>
>     [0]
>     https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Season_of_Docs_Ideas_2019#Leveraging_Google.E2.80.99s_Season-of-Docs
>
>     [1]
>     https://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Season_of_Docs_Ideas_2019#Interested.3F
>
>     -- 
>
>     Cameron Shorter
>
>     Technology Demystifier
>
>     Open Technologies and Geospatial Consultant
>
>     M +61 (0) 419 142 254
>
>
> -- 
>
> Cameron Shorter
>
> Technology Demystifier
>
> Open Technologies and Geospatial Consultant
>
> M +61 (0) 419 142 254
>
-- 
Cameron Shorter
Technology Demystifier
Open Technologies and Geospatial Consultant

M +61 (0) 419 142 254

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