Workflow: Getting Things Done in a Web 2.0 World // ETC 2011 Missoula, MT
1. things done in a web
workflow: getting
2.0 world
Jason Neiffer
C u r r i c u l u m D i r e c t o r, M o n t a n a D i g i t a l A c a d e m y
4 August 2011
ETC 2011, Missoula, Montana
9. Whoa!
• “The average ‘knowledge worker’ --
basically, anyone who works on a
computer – gets about 93 e-mails a
day…”
• “Because people can be connected
24/7, many of them are.”
10. Not new…
“In this breakthrough
book, Richard Saul
Wurman explains why
the information
explosion has backfired
leaving us stranded
between mere facts and
real understanding…”
15. The core problem…
“But, if we moved to a Web-based
collaboration tool, it'd mean that I and my
colleagues would have to keep track of
changes on that tool…”
-- Mitch Wagner, Information Week
24. Workflow
“A workflow consists
of a sequence of
connected steps…”
“A defined set of development stages
applied to a content item…”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workflow
http://www.ensemble.cms.vt.edu/user-manual/glossary/index.html
26. The rules
1. Start with one process: develop more over
time
2. Less is more: don’t use four tools when two will
accomplish the same task
3. Review and evaluate: regularly review and
evaluate, then eliminate, enhance or modify
4. Adopt new tools carefully: don’t assume that
you need to use EVERYTHING that is cool, nifty
or otherwise handy
5. Don’t follow these rules: ignore the rules if you
stumble on something that works better for you!
39. Scenario
I am a world geography teacher
that has a unit for each continent.
I am looking for fresh, current
content to support my unit on
Africa as the textbook is dated
and isn’t as engaging as I would
like it to be.
40. Workflow Process
• Check existing resources
1. • Consider new topics
• Set up traps for information
2.
• Process collected results
3.
• Archive AND/OR
4. • Share
• Review
5.
41. Workflow Process
With Tools
• Check existing resources (Web Search; Delicious)
1. • Consider new topics
• Set up traps for information (Google Reader)
2.
• Process collected results (Google Reader)
3.
• Archive (Delicious, Instapaper) AND/OR
4. • Share (Shareoholic; Delicious RSS Feeds w/WordPress and Moodle)
• Review
5.
54. 5. Review
• Too wide a net? Too narrow a net?
• Still useful?
• Capturing too much information for my
current projects?
• Using the right tools?
• Able to process the information?
55. Scenario
I am a Curriculum Director for an
online K-12 program. I am in charge
of mentoring students, teachers and
site facilitators on various technical
processes related to our learning
management system, student
information system and other assets.
56. Workflow Process
• Check existing resources
1. • Consider new topics
• Set up traps for information
2.
• Process collected results
3.
• Archive AND/OR
4. • Share
• Review
5.
57. Workflow Process
• Check existing resources: Site Facilitator/Student/Parent Blog, Moodle
(LMS)
1.
• Set up traps for information: Need screen capture software
2.
• Process collected results: Student, parent, teacher or site facilitator asks for
help, I use the screen capture software to create a series of screen shots
3.
• Share: Blogs and Moodle
4.
• Review
5.
58.
59.
60. In review…
• Questions:
– Time?
– Right tools for the job?
– More efficient way to do the job?
64. Workflow Process: Email
• Establish regular email practice (check email 3 times
1. a day)
• Choose action items: immediate action, short term
2. action, long term action
• Immediate action: complete, schedule, share
3.
• Short term action: Schedule, archive, share
4.
• Long term action: Schedule, archive, share
5.
65. Workflow Process: Email
With Tools
• Establish regular email practice (Gmail; check 3 times a day with weekly review
on Sunday mornings to find lost or forgotten action items)
1.
• Choose action items: immediate action, short term action, long term action
2.
• Immediate action: complete, schedule (Google Calendar, CalenGoo on iPad),
archive (Delicious, InstaPaper, Dropbox) share (Delicious, Shareaholic)
3.
• Short term action: Schedule (Google Calendar, CalenGoo on iPad), archive
(Delicious, InstaPaper, Dropbox), share (Delicious, Sharaholic)
4.
• Long term action: Schedule (Google Calendar, CalenGoo on iPad), archive
(Delicious, InstaPaper, Dropbox), share (Delicious, Sharaholic)
5.
66. Tweak for other projects
• Dissertation research
• Professional reading
• PLN collaboration/communication
• Fresh content
• Exposure to new ideas and resources
• Complete projects and action items
• Have fun
68. Less is more…
• Don’t use tools to try to gather all
information; use filters to gather only
information you think you would use
• Example: the RSS Feed for the New York
Times or even my local newspaper
69. “Media Diet”
(Mark Hurst’s Bit Literacy)
Stars
• “Rare sources that consistently give useful, relevant information”
• In workflow: tools that are the core tools you use all the time
Scans
• “Reliably deliver at least some relevant information”
• In workflow: tools that may not be used every day, but so something very well
Targets
• “Sources good for a targeted, single use”
• In workflow: highly specialized tool that you use for special projects
Tryouts
• “Sources that are applying to be in your lineup, but are applying to be there)
• In workflow: new tools form discovery or referral that could end up above