Technical White Paper

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About the Aboriginal Mentoring Program

The Aboriginal Mentoring Program employs a range of online tools as part of our online course, including Course and Student Blogs using the Wordpress Platform, and Moodle, and open-source online learning management system.

The tools we have setup are designed to provide participants with an engaging, visual and easy to use environment where they are able to access and publish multimedia resources, images and text. The space also supports forums for discussion and provides participants with access to ‘Interactive Ochre’

This technical guide provides and overview of the requirements of the course, and also provides a site map and navigation overview.

For further information about the course content and aims, please view the Aboriginal Mentoring Program Learner Guide (Login Required).

Accessing the AMP Online Spaces

Participants will be provided with a username and password at the beginning of the course via email. It will also include links to each of the AMP spaces.

We have decided to use a username convention this year to ensure ease of use. Your user name will be the initial of your first name and your last name – ie. JBloghs. The same username will be used in both Moodle and blogging platform (AMP Class Blog and Student Portfolios).

After you have logged in for the first time, you will be able to change your password.

Privacy on the AMP Websites

Whilst the main AMP website is open for public viewing, the AMP classroom and student sites have been made private in the first instance, to allow our learner community to develop and grow. However, please remember that facilitators can view ALL content including participant’s student portfolios.

Student Portfolio Blogs are set up so that only people registed to our community can view them by default. Participants who wish to make their personal Student Portfolio open and accessible to everyone on the web are welcome to do so. You may also choose to invite your family, employer or collegues to join your blog so you can share your learning journey!

To discuss this further, please email Bernadette.

Navigating the Course

The Aboriginal Mentoring Program Online Space has been designed to provide a visually appealing environment, which has clear navigation and is simple to use.

Main Sections of the Site

The following provides an overview of the program spaces:

1. AMP Homepage: Provides information about the program and is used to publish news and general information.

homepageart

2. The AMP Class Blog: Provides news, information and updates for program participants, as well as links to ALL our program resources including:

3. AMP Learnspace: We have established a Moodle Course to provide students with resources and information for use during the course.

4. AMP Student Portfolio: Each student is able to create their own AMP Student Portfolio or blog. This space can be used to publish your work during the program, and also as a tool to connect with others in the course. Student Blogs are private by default and can only be viewed by AMP participants. (Note: Students can request to make their personal space open and public if they wish.)

You can also watch the following screencasts for additional information:

Student Porfolio’s/Blogs

Each student in the program is given access to their own blog, which can be used as a working space and student portfolio during the program. We are using the Wordpress Blogging platform to enable this, as it provides and extremely powerful and flexible publishing space.

Wordpress is easy to use, and participants will be provided with a range of resources during the program to assist them in developing their online publishing skills.

You can also watch the following screencasts for additional information:

About the Interactive Ochre Toolbox

ochre

Interactive Ochre is an interactive, learning toolbox funded by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework. It is designed to provide a flexible and engaging collection of resources for use across a range of subject areas; and has been incluas part of the Aboriginal Mentoring Program 2009. You will need to Login to the AMP Learnspace to access it.

The Interactive Ochre Toolbox presents content in five sections. There is also an additional section for suggested learning activities and learner, presenter and technical guides are included.

The HTML interface is embeded with Flash Content (SWF). There is one point of entry and appropriate navigation allows the user to move through th e multimedia resource using an infotainment model.

Each section offers the learner the opportunity to explore the content at a number of different levels:

The content documents have been developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in collaboration with the production team and provide a deep and detailed insight into the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Each of the content documents contains references to direct the user to further exploration of the topic. In addition, four of the sections include video clips of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people talking about their own experiences.

Interactive Ochre is a package that supports learning in cultural awareness, particularly as it relates to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While it is not linked to specific training package competencies, the materials are useful in supporting the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes in such areas as equal opportunity.

Interactive Ochre – Structure

The content of Interactive Ochre is structured in the following five sections:

Each section is designed as a self-contained multimedia experience that allows the learner to explore the concepts at their own pace and their own level of understanding.

Please note: Users MUST have Flash Player 8 or higher installed on their computer to access the Interactive Ochre Toolbox. For further information and to download visit: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

Technical Requirements

The Aboriginal Mentoring Program has been designed to ensure high levels of accessibility and usability. Technical requirements for participants are included below:

Hardware

Web Browsing Software

Learners will also need the one of the following web-browsing programs installed on their computer:

Screen Display Area

The recommended screen area for full screen display is 1024×768px or higher.

Additional Software, Plugins and Extensions

Incorrect versions of these applications could result in information being shown in an unreadable form or not shown at all.

Access to Websites and Online Resources

During the Aboriginal Mentoring Program, we will be access a number of web-based resources, including a number of user-content-creation tools (commonly referred to as Web 2.0). These sites include:

Network administrators may need to allow access to these sites and services via their corporate firewalls and security systems. Student will need to both browse and upload content to these sites.

Please note, that additional sites may be added during the course.