We have been plugging away with school websites using Adobe Contribute and Contribute Publishing Server to handle all the school websites for our district.  This is a big headache considering all the administrative tasks in managing users etc, plus the training that needs to occur for using Contribute.

We are seriously looking at moving all school websites over to a very slick and powerful wiki product called Deki Wiki by MindTouch.  It is very powerful and looks 100% better than your average wiki because of the built in themes and ability to make themes.  I could go on and on about the features, but they are best explained on their website. 

The biggest benefit is the ability for ANY staff member to add to the school website.  No software, no hassle, no fuss!  They would just login and add whatever information they wanted to add.  This would give it a different approach to school websites in general.  Currently there are 1 maybe 2-3 people in each building who maintain the school website using Contribute.  Reason being is that there is training and a skill level needed to work with Contribute that most teachers don’t want to deal with.  With a wiki, each teacher can go to a page they want to edit and make changes simply by clicking edit and typing in the new information.  Similar to filling out a form on the internet and who hasn’t done that!

There are several technical issues that need to be overcome.  First is the URLs.  For instance, Snow Elm, school is http://snow.dearbornschools.org .  Parents are used to finding the school this way.  With a wiki, I don’t know if we want seperate wikis for each school or can we have all schools housed under 1 wiki.  The question is… When you type in the web address, where does it take you?  All the wikis would have the same IP address on the server and the wiki is dynamic, so you can’t point the url to a folder on the server.

We also have the issue of several schools (a small amount) who are REALLY using their websites to the fullest with videos, etc. that are updated daily.  How do I work with them to bring them over to the wiki without taking away their freedom.  The wiki will have a template and limitations that all school sites will need to follow.  This might seem like a step back for these schools who are really using the websites and creating very neat and cool things for teachers, parents, and schools.

With all of this, there also comes the uncertainty of moving to a new system.  People may look at this as yet another change that will eventually be replaced by something else, so why jump on board with yet another change! 

I have a test server running Deki Wiki and it is also connected to LDAP for easy login.  What has to happen next is making the push to move school websites over to the new system.

The ball may get rolling by Christmas Break!  We will see what happens.