Sosland Online Resource CenterLogic Model and Project Plan

Rebecca Gafvert10/25/2007

Goals of the meeting

Review the background of the SORC. Evaluate the status quo. Use logic modeling to establish:

Desired outcomes with a focus on the end-user.

A philosophy for the SORC.Strategy for moving forward.

Background

Funded by, surprise, the Soslands! The original concept was grand – an all-

encompassing online resource center for educators and lay-leaders.

Created by Caren Levine, the former Director of Technology.

June 2002 - launched November 2003 - Access database was

created.

Status Quo

Sosland consists of an Access database with 660+ resources.

The records consist of:URLs to websites, andDocuments tagged with keywords.

Status Quo Database driven – Microsoft Access

Logic Modeling

Because this project already exists, we should approach a logic model from the side of project planning. We should focus on:

JESNA’s larger logic model. Original intended versus currently desired

outcomes. The end-users and the problem to be

solved/need to be fulfilled. Building the connection between some

preliminary outputs and desired outcomes.

How does the SORC fit in JESNA’s Logic Model for Educator Development and Support?

What problem was the SORC originally designed to solve? As it states on the site,

For whom? Who were the originally intended end-users?

Problem or IssueOriginally

Does the “for:” drop-down menu have anything to do with this?

Who do we NOW envision as the target end-users for the resource center?

What need do we want to fulfill or problem do we want to solve for them?

The answers to these questions should form a “philosophy” for the resource center.

Problem or IssueNow

The Wallace Foundation’s Knowledge Center Philosophy

There are many other websites that serve similar functions.

CAJE DataJEM JAFI Lookstein.org PEJE

Needs and Assets

Needs and Assets

How is ours going to be different?How do we envision our place in the

online community, in terms of: Audience?

Resources provided?

Other functions of the website?

Needs and Assets

What should the SORC NOT be?What topics should not be included?

What functions will our website not

perform?

What audience are we not addressing?

Inputs and Resources

What are the budgetary constraints?

How closely is this linked to JESWeb?

Impact Directly related to the philosophy

Outcomes

Outputs

Desired Results

What do we know about the outcomes up to this point?

What outcomes do we want to see?

Desired Outcomes

MAKE THESE SMARTer.

1. The LCC (and any other stakeholders) will develop a philosophy for the SORC, which will guide the project and be posted online for users.

2. The resources currently housed in the SORC will be more thoroughly indexed with more metadata (to be determined) to enhance the search function.

3. Irrelevant categories will be eliminated, and the list of topical categories will be expanded and edited.

4. Each topical category will be filled with resources, including any resources that are currently housed in the PDC, NAACHHS, etc.

5. Criteria will be developed for inclusion of resources.

6. A process will be developed by which staff (and others?) can contribute resources on a regular basis.

OutputsRecommendations – Short Term

Going forward…Issues for future meetings

Short-term outputs Better indexing and cataloguing Standards for:

Criteria for inclusion of resources Archiving policy

Process for adding new resources Mid to long-term outputs

Organization Evaluate and improve existing organization and indexing,

in terms of topical categories, types of publications, etc. Brainstorm new ways to organize resources.

Website: Think about new functions and design. Part of JESNA website, or temporarily separate?

The end, for now.

2. The resources currently housed in the SORC will be more thoroughly indexed with more metadata to enhance the search function.

What metadata? Better descriptions Detailed publication information Icons where available Tags? Eventually – ratings, popularity

OutputsRecommendations – Short Term

Metadata

Knowledge Center Sosland

3. Irrelevant categories will be eliminated, and the list of topical categories will be expanded and edited.

Categories Three Categories (left column on the

website)

Topical categories (drop down menu)

Content types (retrieved in search)

Audience (“for:” drop down menu)

OutputsRecommendations – Short Term

OrganizationTopical Categories in Left Column

It is unclear how these relate to the other search criteria.

Should they be integrated with the topical categories?

OrganizationTopical Categories in Drop-Down Menu

Topical Categories from Drop-Down Menu

Adult Jewish LearningCamping

Central Agencies/Bureaus of Jewish EducationCongregational and Communal Education

Curricular ResourcesEarly Childhood Education

Financial ResourcesIsrael Education

Jewish Day SchoolsJewish Educational ProgramsLay Leaders/Board Members

Marketing and Advocacy ToolsNational Associations

OutreachProfessional Development and Education

Recruitment and RetentionRenaissance and Renewal

ResearchSalaries and Benefits

Special NeedsTeacher Certification and Licensure

Teacher Recognition ProgramsTechnology

TuitionVideo and Media

Youth

What should we do with these?

Some have only a few resources, some overlap with categories in the left-hand column.

Organization: Content Types

Evaluation of list.

Should these be included as search criteria?

Organization: Content Types Application Form Curriculum

Holiday Curriculum Israel Curriculum Jewish History Curriculum Media Literacy Curriculum Torah Curriculum Webquests

Discussion Boards Jewish Values Curriculum

E-Rate and Funding Learning Hebrew

Evaluating Technology Resources Fundraising and Grants General Resources Initiatives/Programs

Degree Programs Non-degree Programs Pre-professional Programs

Presentations

Publications Articles Directories Journals Newsletters Planning handbooks and guides PowerPoint Presentations Research Reports and Surveys Soundbytes Task Force Reports

Research Reports and Surveys Online Surveys Statistics

Websites Central Agency Websites Classroom Resources (lessons, plans,

activites) Museums Online Activities Producer, Publisher, and Supplier

Websites Resource Center Websites Software Technology Planning and Standard

Organization: Audience

Audience choices in the “for:” drop down menu: All Educators Lay Leaders Parents Teachers

This criterion is unclear. Should it be included?

OutputsRecommendations – Short Term

5. Criteria will be developed for inclusion of resources.

Type What types of resources fit with our stated outcomes? What types do not?

Quality What claims do we want to be able to make regarding quality? Who is in charge of quality control?

Archiving What would the goal be in archiving resources? What type of resources would be archived? As an example, the Wallace Foundation does not appear to

have an accessible archive, and its reports date back to 1996.

Intute http://www.intute.ac.uk/

Intute’s cataloguing process

Strong focus on quality of resources. They have documents available on

the website describing their cataloging process and their “Collection Development Framework.”

OutputsRecommendations – Short Term

6. A process will be developed by which staff can contribute resources on a regular basis.

Who should be involved, both internally and externally?

Schedule Process

Organization Evaluate and improve existing organization and

indexing, in terms of topical categories, types of publications, etc.

Brainstorm new ways to organize resources.

Website: Think about new functions and design. Part of JESNA website, or temporarily separate?

OutputsRecommendations– Mid to Long Term

Website: Brainstorm New features? New design? Possible models for website

organization and design:The Wallace Foundation Knowledge CenterThe National Academies Press IntuteRand

The National Academies Press http://www.nap.edu/

The Wallace Foundation’s Knowledge Center http://www.wallacefoundation.org/KnowledgeCenter/

Rand Corporation Reports and Bookstore http://www.rand.org/pubs/

NIEER (National Institute for Early Education Research)http://nieer.org/research/

National Institute for Health Care Management Foundationhttp://www.nihcm.org/