We've begun talking about local needs over here at MC regarding re-training. Trying to put together a plan. Does anyone have any ideas that they'd like to share?

Our first brainstorm is:

- 2 levels of training.
- One for Power Users (2 hours)
- One for Regular Authors (4 hours would include hands-on work and open lab time)
- 3 classes the week prior to launch and 3 the week after

Sure would like a meeting with all of you and DSTC Web Team...

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Elisa Burleigh
MC Web Coordinator

As we have just a few power users (most of our authors fall into occassional user category) I think as much training for all NHC users would be warranted.

As a coordinator, I would like to know:

1. When will we be trained on all the new features
2. When will we have access to a staging area to 'play' with the new version

We do not have a lot of lead time if we indeed intend to launch on October 1 (October 2nd is Monday) and so time is very critical to not only schedule training for ourselves, but for our users.

I do not see retraining as a huge issue at KC -- like NHC, most KC users are occasional users. We have only a handful of power users. For Kingwood, I think the emphasis will be on a new training effort to try to finally build some momentum for Estrada use. I would like to know:

1. When will the new version launch?
2. How will the migration process affect web coordinators -- what is our involvement?
3. When will we have access to the staging area for our sites to make sure
everything is complete?
4. Can we be given access to a a general staging area now?

I'm anxious to hear about training as DSTC plans are finalized.

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KC Webdebb

I asked a number of those questions yesterday in an email to Jen. You guys brought up some good questions!! Does anyone care to ask for a meeting? Garett said he'd try to get one scheduled, but as I look at our timeline and the tasks we've identified we need the meeting very soon. Like Tuesday...

Here are the questions we asked Jen yesterday. She said she'd try to have answers to us today.

- Is the launch date October 1?
- When will a test site be available for us to work with?
- When will revised training documentation be available for authors?
- When will revised training documentation be available for admins?
- When is the first train the trainer session and where will it be held?
- Are there any more Estrada mugs or other promotional items that we can use as incentives?

I checked about the meeting and John said that we need to wait on some important details from Estrada, then he will schedule a meeting and send it out to everyone.

I cannot meet Tuesday and not sure any time next week will work ... my schedule is packed. I say we see what John has in mind for training (seems he has been giving this thought and did a good job with the training module before), then we can add our $.02.

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KC Webdebb

If we decide we cannot meet, could we block out times for (a) phone conference(s)?

Of course John will do a good job!! John ALWAYS does a good job (that is not in question and never is)!

We (myself and other key stakeholders at MC) would simply like a meeting to go over all the upgrades, how the conversion will be handled, what will be expected of us at MC, what resources we can expect from DSTC Web Team, our college-specific training needs, strategies for training, training schedules, a test environment in which we can work prior to training anyone, and the list goes on and on.

At our meeting last week, there were issues brought up by the college Web Coordinators that did not seem to have been previously considered. This is NOT a negative reflection on the skill of DSTC Web Team ~ it's simply the nature of a district and a system of this size and scope.

In my opinion, face-to-face collaborative discussion and process development are needed even if we have to meet at an odd time to accomodate everyone who is interested in attending.

Interestingly enough, my intent is not at all to be adversarial, but rather to find a place where we can bridge any differences we have and move forward together as a team to insure we are serving students. Elisa, I will respond to you privately. In the meantime, I await a response from DSTC as to how they plan to move forward.

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KC Webdebb

Sounds like we're waiting on Estrada. I've been out so I'm not sure of the status yet. I'm just posting this message so I'll be subscribed to this discussion forum.

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Cynthia Shade
Cy-Fair College Web Coordinator
281.290.3984
[email protected]