JANET Collaborate Pilot Project
Updated on 3 November 2009 :
Following a very successful pilot project the JANET Collaborate prototype site has been retired. This has come about as a result of difficulties in maintaining the prototype beyond its intended lifetime. We are now looking at how to add the functionality into our service portfolio in order to provide an improved feature set based on the requirements gathered in the pilot. The information on Content Provider sessions will continue to be available via the www.ja.net/schools Web site. |
Pilot Overview
Enabling an educator or academic to find others that share the same interests is seen by many to be a fundamental service. This applies equally to those in Schools, Further and Higher Education, and Research. Furthermore, schools, colleges and universities are always looking for high quality content, and educational content providers are also looking for ways to reach students and teachers.
The aim of the proposed Collaboration Service is to enable those in education to
- find others with shared educational interests, thus leading to educational collaboration;
- find or offer opportunities for collaboration, especially live educational content being delivered by videoconference;
- find associated educational resources, e.g. best practice, projects, lesson plans.
Prototype Development
The JANET Collaborate prototype provided a focus for discussion around the use and introduction of a full collaboration service. A sucessful pototype could lead to the specification, funding, development and delivery of a fully functional national collaboration service.
Delib Ltd (www.delib.co.uk), an e-democracy company based in Bristol and London, were appointed to develop the prototype, following a competitive tender exercise.
Scope
The prototype service was available to all teachers, lecturers and educational support staff in schools, colleges and universities throughout the UK and overseas, as well as staff in associated organisations. The prototype was also available to educational content providers including museums.
Functionality
The prototype provided basic collaboration tools and was technology-agnostic. Members’ personal profiles outline interests and contact information, including details of the collaboration services to which they subscribe (e.g. JVCS Venue, Skype Handle, MSN Email Address). Members were able to:
- search for other members with similar interests
- send a message to another member, inviting collaboration
- offer or request, search for and join 'opportunities' for collaboration
- create and take part in groups and forums.
Promotional materials
The Prototype was available to educators and content providers between October 2007 and October 2009. An offical launch event was held on 3 October 2007 at the National Maritime Museum. Links below provide access to the JANET Collaborate flyer and footage recorded at the launch event.
- JANET Collaborate Launch Event
- To play the video in your browser window - Flash Movie
- To download the file (550Mb) - Windows Media File
Project Board
The development of the prototype and pilot was overseen by the JANET Collaborate Project Board.
JANET Collaborate is being developed by the Schools Strategy Group within JANET(UK). Project Manager and Schools Content Coordinator, Tim Boundy, can be contacted at tim.boundy@ja.net, 01235 822370 or at the JANET(UK) Offices, Didcot.