The Advisory Group for the E-Learning Council came up with three possible mission statements.   We got more definition from a forum discussion.  Please read, review and comment.  We are having another advisory group meeting next week and we’d like to finalize the mission and vision of this group

#1

Advance E-learning through a community of professionals with the purpose of providing leadership, information and resources in a collaborative environment.

#2

Bringing people together to advance E-learning.

#3

To serve as a community of leadership, information, and resources to expand and enhance effective E-learning.

• Collaborate
• Advance
• Guide
• Support
• Share

From Forum discussion:

We want to establish a council with resources and redirects to help folks at any stage of their development of and adminstration of the e-learning process for the products needed for their group or business.
This is a dynamic and fast evolving method of providing learning and enrichment for people to absorb or deliver in thier preferred manner.  Because of this, it will forever take many folks contributing on what they have learned or heard about.  We have discussed a Wiki type of resource to be developed to accomodate this need.

1. We hope to identify all of the ways evolving for the delivery of an e-learning  method of training and at the very least, point people to more and catagorized resources.
2. We hope to have Subject Interest Groups develop within the Council and presentations for members to receive.
3. We hope to provide a community of interactive individuals who will help each other learn the methods and make decisions on the best e-learning solutions for their situations.

The E-learning Advisory Group had its meeting on Friday March 30, 2008 to:

• Define the Mission Statement
• Define Organizational Goals
• Define Group Structure

Please feel free to comment on any of the notes below using the comment section (you do have to register in order to comment)

Attending

• Joy Hall Bryant, Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR)
• Tim Cunninham, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
• Linda Garcia, Dell
• Carolyn Grosse, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
• Janet Hall, Sprint
• Sammy Henson, Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS)
• Martha Jacobson, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
• Sanjay Nasta, MicroAssist
• Joachim Strenk, MicroAssist

Background

The E-Learning Council held its charter meeting on May 15th with over 20 people attending to discuss the need for and purpose of forming an organization focused on the sharing of resources and information related to E-Learning. The group quickly reached consensus that such an organization would be valuable. Volunteers were recruited to serve as an initial advisory board to begin work on defining the mission, goals, and structure. Additionally, MicroAssist launched a collaborative website.

Brainstorming Notes

The group brainstormed various aspects of the organization, what it should and should not be, and developed three draft mission statements to be posted on the website for collaborative editing and comment. (See website for statements.)

YES! (Our vision of ELC)

• Educational
• Resource sharing
• Safe networking
• Collaboration with other groups
• Opportunities to specialize
• Mentoring
• Peer to peer exchange
• Gathering of gurus
• Play a leadership role
• Dynamic
• Positive
• Open
• Cross-jurisdictional – diversity of interests
• Have vision, but grow reasonably
• Ability to gain quick responses (E-interaction)
• Local focus, but not limited
• Rich website resources
• Information for those just getting started

No! (What we want to avoid)

• Not a marketing focus
• Not an expensive members-only organization
• No killer tomato syndrome (massive growth without vision or direction)
• Do not re-invent the wheel in terms of resources or other organizations

Website Features

• Post information
• News Feeds / RSS
• Blog
• Calendar
• Forums
• Glossary of Terms
• Wiki (not enabled yet)

Questions/Concerns

Policies for posting and policing content will be needed

Policies/limits/use of site for job postings

Miscellaneous Discussion Items

The group decided to forgo formal officer positions and bylaws for now and to focus the summer effort on general outreach and growth of the website as a resource.

Sanjay will continue to manage the website.

Many aspects of the organization will evolve naturally as ELC grows

There is immediate need for website content.

It is recognized that if the organization grows as expected, there are potential costs so the need for revenue must eventually be addressed. Possibilities could include optional membership fees, website ads, vendor sponsorships. That will all be addressed/discussed in the future.

Action Items

Post draft mission statement ideas on website and solicit feedback

Encourage new members to join (by creating an account on the website)

Generate additional web content

Identify how ELC/website can serve existing groups like the Lectora Users Group that would like to work in conjunction with ELC, perhaps even as a Special Interest Group (SIG)