Building a Community of Learners: Using Open-Source Software to develop a Docent Training Hub

Our goal: empower a diverse docent community to create their own training hub. Powered by open-source software and an ambitious docent corps, we wondered how to provide a space for docents to self-moderate and share responsibility while adhering to an institution’s guidelines and oversight? A demonstration of the site will provide fodder for discussing the planning, revision, and maintenance workflows that evolved. Modules developed include plugins for the docent library, museum exhibitions, training materials, and roster. Participants will receive links to the custom built software we have released as open source on GitHub. Discussion will focus on lessons learned and how other institutions can incorporate open-source tools for their own training needs.

Transcript

1. Building a Community of Learners: Using Open-Source Software to Develop a Docent Training Hub Ryan King @ryancanhelpyou #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 01
2. Overview #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 02 • Scenario • Planning / Process • Site Demo • Theme + Plugin Development • Summary + Next Steps
3. Scenario #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 03
4. Docents #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 04
5. Docents #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 05 Binders full of docents
6. Docents Institution #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 06 +
7. Key Players #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 07 • Docent Technology Committee (DTC) • Education Department (EDU) • Digital Media & Technology (DMT) • SI Central (OCIO)
8. "Has anyone ever said, 'I wish I could go to more meetings today'?" - Matt Mullenweg #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 08
9. Allow yourself planning time #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 09
10. "Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo." - Jon Sinclair #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 010 "Do not fear mistakes - there are none." - Miles Davis "Fail, fail again, fail better" - Samuel Beckett
11. Planning / Process #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 011
12. Why Open-source? #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 012 • Free in cost • Free in ability to modify content • Free in the ability to control our data (it’s not locked into a proprietary system)
13. Drupal WordPress #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 013
14. Site Demo #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 014
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23. Theme + Plugin development #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 023
24. Custom Post Types #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 024 • CPT UI https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-post-type-ui/
25. #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 025 • Training • Research • Library • People • Newsletter • Announcements • Banner • Hands-On Inventory • Web Manual
26. #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 026 Make it your own
27. #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 027 Starter Plugin Boilerplates • Tom McFarlin / Devin Vinson https://github.com/DevinVinson/WordPress-Plugin-Boilerplate • Matty Cohen / WooCommerce https://github.com/mattyza/starter-plugin • Plugin Starter http://pluginstarter.org
28. Custom Fields #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 028 • Advanced Custom Fields https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/
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32. Code Generator #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 032 • GenerateWP https://generatewp.com
33. User Roles #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 033 • Members https://wordpress.org/plugins/members/ ‒ Docents (subscriber) ‒ DTC (editor) ‒ EDU (editor) ‒ Admin (admin)
34. User Profiles #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 034 • BuddyPress https://buddypress.org • Ultimate Member https://ultimatemember.com
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36. Additional Plugins #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 036 • Simple LDAP Login • Better Notifications for WP • Enable Media Replace • OTF Regenerate Thumbnails • SearchWP ($49-249)
37. Scheduling #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 037 • Timely https://www.gettimely.com • BirchPress Scheduler https://wordpress.org/plugins/birchschedule/ • The Events Calendar https://theeventscalendar.com ?
38. Starter Theme #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 038 • _s http://underscores.me • _s Components http://components.underscores.me • wd_s generator https://wdunderscores.com
40. Next #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 040
41. Community #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 041 • Continue to refine • Evaluation • Ongoing maintenance • Share code and collaborate • Internationalization / translation
42. "Technology is best when it brings people together." - Matt Mullenweg #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 042
43. Resources #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 043 • GitHub Repository https://github.com/FreerSackler/DocentTrainingSite • WordPress and Museums listserv http://s.si.edu/2f6boY5
44. Thank you! #WCBalt @ryancanhelpyou 044 Ryan King kingr@si.edu @ryancanhelpyou