Back from Tonga

I returned from Tonga last Friday but have only just completed typing up my notes. Other than having my luggage go astray when I arrived, the trip was pretty good.

Information from the review, albeit too short for any detailed analysis and verification, was still informative. Funnily enough, there were similarities in some of the issues that came out of the Kiribati review I did last year with an overseas consultant.

Firstly, the data gathering task was difficult because of the nature of island geography and transport logistics. There were problems in timeliness and data quality, albeit there was effort undertaken by a unit in the Schools Division to go out to schools and check some of the data for the EMIS while they were there.

There were issues involved with business process management along the information chain. This involved both the data collection from the schools, and the way in which the data was being used for the end product. It wasn’t always clear for the schools as to what surveys were coming and for what the information was being used for. And there was some concern over data quality although the review didn’t have time to evaluate the data.

In Tonga, the education statistics from the EMIS are used for the annual report of the Ministry of Education. However, the report needs to be tabled in Parliament before the statistics are released publicly. The 2009 and 2010 reports haven’t been tabled yet.  In Kiribati, an annual statistical digest is published each year with a comprehensive set of data.

In both Tonga and Kiribati, on-demand requests for information from EMIS were common.

There is more analysis to be done on the information gleaned from the rapid review of the Tonga EMIS. And there are upcoming trips to PNG and Vanuatu to do similar rapid reviews.

All in all, there are some interesting projects I will be involved in over the coming weeks. I am looking forward to it.

Another EMIS evaluation

Next week I am off to Tonga for a couple of days. I have been asked to undertake a quick (well, two days is pretty quick!) evaluation of the education management information system (EMIS) used by the Tonga Department of Education.

This project is part of a series of EMIS evaluations in the Pacific in the next couple of months. I am off to Papua New Guinea at the end of the month.

For part of the project I will be working with Oscar, the consultant I worked with in Kiribati last year. It will be great to work with him again and on a very similar project.

I quite enjoy these projects that get me out into the real world on projects that can make a real difference to policy development and education. I also find these projects professionally rewarding in being able to use a part of my skill set that sees only limited use  in my AusAID library and knowledge services role.

On conferences

Conferences are events that I generally support because of the learning and conversations that take place.  I consider conferences to be an integral part of knowledge management, especially the person-to-person interactions that occur between sessions and at meal breaks.  The networking opportunities are also important.

But I am wondering if conferences are really all they are cracked up to be.  I heard on the news last night that there is going to be a big conference  in Canada in the coming weeks to discuss donor response to the disaster emergency in Haiti.  And in the world of international development there are always plenty of conferences taking place around the world.  Are conferences the right forum to discuss disaster relief and emergency aid when people still don’t have access to aid, food and shelter in Haiti even now?

My questioning about conferences has triggered some thoughts about networks.  The world wide web is a network of computers. An organisation is a network of functions performed by individuals, some of whom will form personal networks in order to do their jobs, and become more effective in their work.  So why aren’t networks sufficient to act in times of crises, or at other times for that matter, instead of formal conferences?  Conferences may act as a catalyst for the creation of networks, but at what point should networks replace conferences?

Whilst I have given examples from international development, the questions are just as valid for other subjects and issues.  I’d like to hear what people think about this conference issue, and whether there is any scope for networks to take over.

On flickr and development agencies

There’s an interesting blog post from Timo at the Red Cross about the use of Flickr to showcase the international development and humanitarian work done by that agency (thanks Nadejda on KM4dev for the tip).  The Red Cross Flickr stream is really a terrific site and well worth a visit.  Where I work, AusAID has a Flickr site too.

Timo’s blog post cites eight lessons learned from the experience of using Flickr:

1. know your audience
2. newsworthiness beats quality
3. less is more
4. understand what you want to achieve
5. use Flickr groups
6. appreciate the work of others
7. need to give solid attention to Flickr to maintain traffic
8. be careful with creative commons licensing

What is missing, and Timo alludes to this in his blog post, is that Flickr needs better integration with other applications. Timo suggests that Flickr needs to better integrate with Facebook, for example.  In addition, I think we also need to work out how better to use Flickr to tell the stories behind the photos.  I still feel that the images, words and tags are not enough to really give me a strong sense of place and story.  There is greater potential for education and learning beyond just the images themselves, albeit I know how powerful images can be in their own right.

It would be great to be able to link the photos to a short podcast, perhaps a narrative fragment from one of the image subjects, to really give stronger context to the individual images.  Not sure if this is possible, but I am certain narrative would add to the user-experience.

On advertising and web 2.0 for knowledge management

Just received my latest UTS Alumni email newsletter.  I completed two postgraduate degrees from UTS.   I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the The Fred Hollows Foundation won the world’s best not-for-profit television advertisement at the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands.  Readers may recall that I did a nine month contract with The Fred Hollows Foundation before coming to AusAID earlier this year.

The full excerpt from the UTS alumni newsletter is here:

Fred Hollows’ ad voted best in the world

An advertisement featuring the late Professor Fred Hollows has been named the world’s best not-for-profit television ad at the International Fundraising Congress in the Netherlands. Heading up the advertising campaign was BA Communication (Hons) graduate Joe Boughton-Dent, The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Communications and Community Engagement Manager.

“The 90-second advertisement started out as a YouTube clip… It got a great response and was viewed over 50,000 times, so we knew people were interested in Fred and what he achieved,” says Boughton-Dent.

“People really respond to a positive message that one person can have a real impact,” he says. “This award shows that Fred Hollow’s message is as powerful today as it was when he passed away in 1993.”

The other finalists in the best not-for-profit advertising category included Action Aid, RSPCA and Operation Smile.

The award-winning Fred Hollows ad has been aired on Australian television since June this year. To view it, [visit the clip on] YouTube.”

The knowledge management take from this success is that YouTube clips can make a difference. I firmly believe that such clips are an excellent way of getting important organisational messages and information across, whether internal or external to an organisation.

There really is no excuse for organisations NOT to consider YouTube and other web 2.0 technologies as a legitimate part of the knowledge management and communication armoury. Importantly, web 2.0 technologies like YouTube and audio podcasts should be key considerations for effective knowledge and information management within an organisation’s strategic and functional  information architecture.

Using social media

I often hear that some people are reticent to use social media in organisational contexts because they feel that unless they have high quality production equipment, there is no point.  I must say that I have some sympathy to this view. However, I also believe that having simple equipment can also be effective so long as you have a good story to tell, and that the purpose and use of your media makes sense for what you are trying to do.

When I worked at Rabobank in Sydney a few years ago, one of the young chaps in the IT area used his mobile telephone to take video of himself talking through the proposed move to new office premises at Darling Harbour.  He basically filmed himself (at arm’s length) walking through the new office premises showing the refurbishments on the floors we would be occupying.  He gave a personal and informative commentary. And despite the video being somewhat jerky at times (he didn’t edit the video at all), it was still effective – but the BBC it certainly was not.  He even did a nice story, encouraging all of us at Rabobank to visit, about an historic visiting Dutch sailing ship moored at Darling Harbour (Rabobank is a Dutch bank).

Think of it, a mobile phone was used to record video which was uploaded to the intranet.  Well actually, in the initial phase I think the video was sent around as a file attachment.  Soon there was some buzz within the organisation about his chatty and informative videos.  In the end, I think he either had the files loaded on the intranet or he was fired … I think probably the former!

His personality and use of (mobile phone) video in such a seemingly amateuristic and informal way was of significant appeal; far greater than the formal channels of communication (newsletter and text on the intranet) about the office move.  And had his initial video been official policy, turning his video into some high-end production would have destroyed the natural and honest appeal of his reports.

More recently, I have enjoyed a number of reports about the World Food Program in Malawi.  The reports are videocasts (sorry, I always refere to video podcasts as videocasts) called On the road: Malawi.  It looks like the video is shot on a hand-held camcorder.  The story is natural and easy going.  It really is like being there in a real place – not some media-constructed and phoney backdrop to showcase production quality and five second soundbites.  The video has been edited, but video editing software these days is inexpensive and can yield good results.

These two examples demonstrate that having low-cost production techniques can in fact communicate high quality information and knowledge in an effective way.  Certainly, one has to ensure that the video is (mostly) in focus and the sound is audible and can be understood, but you don’t need expensive HD cameras and top-end audio recording equipment all the time. 

And of course, one has to pick the right audience and story that best suits these low-cost production strategies.  A corporate video and advertising campaign are likely to require higher level production values than (say) showcasing an internal success story within the organisation.  Digital images for National Geographic and the weekend colour supplements in national newspapers will have different quality requirements than a digital photostory on an intranet or website.

Similarly, the number of social media distribution tools (such as blogs, podcasting sites, Picassa Web and Flickr, MySpace and YouTube, for example) allow for a far greater range of production qualities than ever before. Instead of not doing things because we don’t have everything perfect, why not experiment with some of these low cost production options and see how effective they can be?

Virtual Participation Camp: Changing the Rules, June 27-28

Having just blogged about conference formats, I have just received the following email from Stephen Dohrn via the km4-dev list-serv. I hope Stephen doesn’t mind me reproducing most of that post here. The virtual participation camp sounds like it could be a very different conference experience.

Participation Camp, Change the Rules, in New York on June 27-28, will provide the spark for an explosion of sharing, experimentation and collaboration. Democracy is the game where we can change the rules together! How do we make this game more serious, more fair and more fun? Please let us know if you are interested in convening a virtual session at this event on a topic of your choice, or collaborating with us in some way!

Participants may attend a wide range of physical and virtual presentations (or deliver one themselves), compete in a conference wide web participation game called Nomic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomic), or roll up their sleeves in a hands on workshop. For preliminary details see: http://participationcamp.org/.

If you might be interested in collaborating with us, please check out the wiki at: http://barcamp.pbworks.com/ParticipationCamp

What Makes Change The Rules Different?

Virtual/Physical Hybrid Structure: One particular feature of this event is that we will be bridging the physical and virtual worlds. We will be opening up virtual spaces in advance of the actual session so as to engage virtual participants in the project. We will also have a room where virtual presenters can connect with those at the conference.

Open Space/Defined Hybrid Structure: We will be using Open Space principles for the creation of some of the sessions, but will also be seeking out the involvement of those that would like to actively
engage participants on a specific topic. If there is an issue or a question that you would like to discuss at this event, please let us know!

Play Game: We will be playing the game, Nomic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomic). This is a game that is designed to teach participants, by virtue of their experience, some of the interesting features of governance, democracy, rule making, rule following, collaboration etc.

Pre-Session Dialogue: We will open SkypeChat spaces that enable those that are interested in the PCamp theme(s) to connect with each other, exchange ideas, plan potential sessions etc.

Sustain Dialogue: Due to the fact that virtual environments are accessible from anywhere, it becomes possible for participants to continue their conversations with others after the conclusion of the
session. This makes it possible for them to continue to explore the ideas and projects that they are interested in, as well as to cultivate the relationships with those that they have connected with.
We hate the fact that what happens when events end is that there is little or no follow up!

Questions/Themes

Here are a few questions that we have been thinking about. Are there any such questions that are of interest to you, and around which you might be interested in organizing a virtual session?

What, generally speaking, is the role that technology can play in fostering citizen engagement?
What are the best tools for creating the right frameworks for fostering citizen engagement?
What are the particular challenges of using open, collaborative, platforms?
What sorts of business models are consistent with ‘open collaboration’? How can organizations that subscribe to these principles also generate revenue?
How do we utilize technology to mobilize the youth vote?
Process

On June 20th, we will create a chat space/conversation in Skype to which we will invite all those that are interested in participating in an open dialogue on issues relating to open governance. This chat
space will allow you the opportunity to:

Introduce yourself and your project to others that are like minded
Connect with others that might be interested in your project or might have interesting project ideas.
Learn, via participation, about how open, collaborative, patterns of interaction work
Learn, via participation, how groups self organize
Virtual Tools

We will be using free online tools that are easily accessible by any participant, such as:
Drop.io: We will utilize drop.io (www.drop.io) in order to organize and share files.
Google Documents: will be used for the joint authoring of documents.
SkypeChat: Will provide a open space where people can start the dialogue, network and keep the discussion going.
Etherpad: for notetaking during sessions.
Twitter: as a channel to the outside to integrate other interested parties.
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You can’t get more web 2.0 and participatory than this conference!

On my new job

Today I started my new job as Thematic Knowledge Services Manager at AusAID, Australia’s overseas development agency.

At the same time, I am still waiting on Optus to supply my ADSL modem so that I can access the internet from home. It took two weeks and one fault report before Optus got my telephone working so I am not greatly impressed with Optus’s level of customer service.

And don’t get me started on the move from Sydney to Canberra with a certain large removalist company – careless is one word to describe them!

But I don’t want to dwell on the shortcomings of moving locale and getting 21st century services connected in the nation’s capital…

For now, I am back on deck and looking forward to my new role.

On a new city and a new job

It has been a while since my last post. I have been finishing up my work at the Fred Hollows Foundation and preparing for my move to Canberra with a newjob at AusAID. AusAID is the Australian federal government’s overseas development agency.

I am in the midst of the move fom Sydney to Canberra, with limited internet opportunities. More news soon.

What I can report on is that the decision to start a new job in a new city was a lot more difficult to make than I would have thought, given my preference for Canberra over gridlocked Sydney any time!

Stay tuned and stay patient. I will be back on track in the coming week or so.

On blog action day 2008 poverty

The 15th October was blog action day for poverty. I was away in Canberra yesterday on more mundane things like knowledge management and the act-km conference (more details in a later post). However, I still wish to highlight the awareness raising hopes of blog action day for poverty with this post.

The UN reports that “the World Bank has revised upward its estimates of the number of the world’s poor from nearly 1 billion to 1.4 billion, drawing on new data that indicates that poverty is more widespread across the developing world than previously thought”. You can also check out the Human Development Report for more facts and figures.

The facts and figures reveal the magnitude of the poverty crisis in the developing world. But of course, here in Australia, we have poverty as well.  Poverty affects Indigenous communities and is largely responsible for the gap in life expectancy between white Australians and Indigenous people.

Since I work for an international development agency in Australia, The Fred Hollows Foundation, I can say with certainty that every contribution makes a significant difference to people whose lives are deeply affected by blindness and vision impairment in developing countries.

Take Simila in Kenya for example. Her mother had to stay at home and couldn’t work or do many of the households tasks for her family. Her daughter, Simila, often had to stay at home and help her mother instead of going to school. By missing out on school, Simila’s level of education is affected that can limit her working opportunities in the future. Children having to stay at home to look after family members because of blindness is a real problem in many developing countries.

Often, with a simple sight-restoring operation, people like Simila’s mother can obtain new-found independence that not only makes a difference to the individual, but to the rest of her family and often the community at large as well. Simila can return to school and look forward to an education, something she is keen to pursue if her dream of becoming a doctor is to be realised.

And vision impairment in developing countries affects a whole range of factors that can contribute to poverty and the poverty cycle. Blind people in developing countries find it extremely difficult to find work and get a regular income. Even working in the fields or with livestock is difficult. No income makes it difficult for families to buy the food they need, pay for school education and materials, and get proper health care. Poverty can exacerbate blindness because health care and preventable treatments can’t be accessed. Poverty can lead to blindness through disease, poor nutrition and poor sanitation.

The recently concluded Cataract Impact Study makes the following observation about the link between vision impairment and poverty and the difference cataract surgery alone can make:

“The results, which were remarkably consistent across countries, showed a marked increase in quality of life after surgery, an increase in activities both in and outside the home, better relationships and an increase in household expenditure. This study strongly suggests that the downward spiral of poverty experienced by people who are blind can be halted or even reversed by modern high quality cataract surgery”.

Poverty is indeed a huge issue. We can make a difference ourselves. We can help by donating to international development agencies, like The Fred Hollows Foundation, lobbying governments to support the UN Millennium Development Goals, and through raising awareness and commitment from people in Australia and all around the world. Blog action day – poverty is part of that crusade.

And as part of The Foundation’s comitment to raising awareness, have a look at the Anti-Poverty Week activities as part of our schools-based community education services from our getfcused web site. We will continue this education campaign with primary schools until 14th November.

On Ning and things for educational resource development

In my current role at The Fred Hollows Foundation I am working with my community education co-ordinator to put together a teacher reference group to provide input and comment on development education materials aimed at school students.

I am exploring Ning at the moment to get a better understanding of its capabilities as a potential tool for use in establishing this educational reference group. One of the benefits of Ning is the ability to have an invitation-only member forum in which to communicate and discuss various educational issues with a reference group who may not otherwise meet together in person.

I’d be interested in hearing about any experiences with Ning, or other systems, that have been used to develop educational initiatives and teaching materials in a professional reference group setting. I would be especially interested in experiences from the international development and NGO educational areas.

On my new job

I start my new full-time job at the Fred Hollows Foundation tomorrow. I will be in charge of the information, knowledge management and education unit of the organisation. I am really looking forward to working back in the NGO sector and in international development. It will also make my involvement in KM4dev and Society for International Development more relevant.

It’s sort of a full circle for me since my first full-time job was working for an international development NGO, Australian Freedom From Hunger Campaign (AFFHC). That was quite some ago, but it feels like yesterday!

There will be some differences for me though, having worked in the Sydney CBD for most of my working life, and now working out in the suburbs. The organisation will also be different to me, having working in the banking and finance industry for almost twenty years.

The new position combines my personal interests and professional skills very well and this match really appealed to me when considering my working options. I look forward to the new challenges with the Fred Hollows Foundation and helping to make a real difference beyond just the organisational borders.

I hope to relate some of my experiences and observations in this new workplace context through more regular blog postings – so stay tuned!

On harvesting text

In most organisations there is a plethora of text that is composed, written and sent out. Sometimes the text circulates and sometimes text comes back. We take text for granted because it is so ubiquitous. But in the digital world we can do more with text.

A recent blog post from Nancy White highlighted some techniques for making use of text in a much more effective way. Nancy’s experience was with KM4Dev. Nancy explains the summarising and harvesting of learnings from key community conversations in the KM4Dev email list and onto a wiki. The same techniques would have worked with my former communities of practices that were also based on e-mail lists.

Sometimes, when changing applications, the existing text-based information is archived or just deleted. The new application starts afresh as if there had been no information and no learnings that preceded it. By taking the existing information from the listserv and reusing that knowledge in the wiki, there is now the opportunity to reframe the information via the wiki format and to maintain the knowledge learnings and knowledge history.

The value of the existing information is retained and rearticulated for re-use. New discussions will emerge and radiate within the new format. The process will be ongoing and regenerating, just like in the natural world with sowing, nurturing, growing, and harvesting.