1. Users
The primary user group for the authoring environment are teachers/academics.
In addition the following groups also constitute part of the user community:
- instructional designers
- educational support
- IT support staff
'Consumers' of eXe output:
- students/learners
Wider community may also include:
- Tertiary Education Commission
- Open Source software developers
- Learning Management System communities (ie. Moodle, ILIAS, Claroline, ATutor, Docebo, Dokeos, Blackboard, WebCT, etc)
1.1 Characteristics of Target Users (eXe authoring environment)
- teachers - limited knowledge of web publishing technologies; familiar technologies: word processing, web browsing, slideshow presentations; 'digital immigrants'. Sophisticated users of publishing technologies (Dreamweaver, Frontpage, etc) are not primary audience.
1.2 Users of eXe output (web content for learning)
- youth; age group: 5-25. 'digital natives', familiar with web technologies; multi-taskers; desire instant feedback/gratification;
2.0 Goals for eXe project
- As many users as possible
- access to a free tool for teachers to author content
- contribute to NZ elearning infrastructure
- add to a growing list of open source tools for education
- increase the range of choice among elearning technologies
2.1 Secondary objectives
- create platform for next generation elearning
- promoting innovative use of technology for learning
How will success be assessed
- number of users
- peer-review
- number of developers
- continued funding
3.0 Perception
see /BrandPlatform?
4.0 Promotional Strategy
eXe is not a Learning Management System, it adds value to the suite of learning technologies already in place.
Short Term - to raise awareness; promote uptake with users, and LMS vendors/providers.
Long Term - to build relationships with community.
immediate need is graphic identity to assist with promotion of eXe. See: http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates/homepage for examples of how this might be achieved.
Notes
This is an OpenSource? project. Open Source is primarily concerned with guaranteeing certain freedoms around software choice and distribution. (see: http://www.gnu.org/)
Sites we like
- http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates/homepage - Firefox logo (and Thunderbird) and related graphic identities. Like the stylised use of fox ... and smart selection of colour (stands out.)
- http://art.gnome.org/ - playful 3D (embossed?) style.
- http://www.cactuslab.co.nz/ - logo. suggests intelligence, laboratory approach. We like the 'witty' way they suggest their "brand values".
- http://exe.cfdl.auckland.ac.nz/voyager/toc.html - juxtaposition between graphic (comic book style) and realism.
- http://www.stratvision.net/portal/Default.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=4&moduleLinkID=116 - imagery reflects focus of organisation
- http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/TePapa/English/PictureLibrary/TePapaPress/ - nicely thoughtout features, simple identifiable logo and use of icons
- http://www.christianlindholm.com/christianlindholm/
- http://www.sakaiproject.org/ - like the impression that the Sakai logo emits with the rippling effect of the k touching water.