Piloting Our Collaborations Platform. John Zeus demonstrates the integration of Smartboard, Enterprise Wiki, Distance Learning Strategy via Webinar at a local YMCA.

Notes

Our Collaboration Platform provides an easy and secure, web-based, content creation and management platform designed to be used anywhere, any time. The system empowers contributors to create attractive documents with rich content including images, links, media and more. With Instant publishing out goes the single gatekeeper and in grows a thriving collaborative community. Each workspace has its own designated editor(s) and its own security settings. Fine-grained, flexible permission schemes guarantee that only the right people can view, contribute or publish content. Our Platform allows stakeholders to manage day-to-day operations by enabling users to track, organize and manage their activities, while providing one central location to manage intellectual assets. The solution includes social collaboration tools with wiki’s, blogs and an informational dashboard that displays what team members are working on and contributing to. As a result, team members can easily find relevant content, communicate with experts, look at past or similar projects, and keep on top of any relevant content changes.

The idea is that there can exist a simple, easy-to-navigate and easy-to-participate in, on-line portal that gives a wide variety of audiences (Youth, Administrators, Funders, Partners, Facilitators, etc.) the opportunity to view, share, create or find information related to their particular “level” of interest.

Our platform organizes these disparate groups into logical communities of interest, and provides “snapshot” views of happenings across a host of activities; including Internships, Essential Skills Development, news, events and much more. Users will have the ability to create new content, establish a simple profile, and engage in collaborative discussions or “sharing.”

• For the busy CEO or manager? Our ‘community of practice’ serves as a “collaborative news portal”—giving thumbnails and snapshots of activity across the the organizations spectrum. (a single website to use…to know “what’s going on” without having to become mired in the details)
• For the Administrator or Facilitator? Our ‘network of networks’ is a way to connect and collaborate with other department  locations and personnel—and to share success stories and deeper program information by utilizing links to deeper information housed on the wiki and other sources.
• For Youth and program participants?  With ‘shared leadership’ ‘knowledge production and transfer’  we serve as a sort of social network revolving specifically around the organizations programs, activities and success stories nationwide.  As members we definitely see that we are not alone in our endeavours!

I had an opportunity to meet Leah at a mentor appreciation event at Robert Lee YMCA in Vancouver. Her passion and enthusiasm for mentoring and building her community was contagious.

Success Story

Excerpts adapted from:  An Opportunity For A New Direction – Intern, Leah A. … read more

I WANT TO STUDY INUIT CULTURES SO THAT I CAN HELP MY PEOPLE EVEN MORE. THIS INTERNSHIP SHOWED ME JUST HOW POSSIBLE MY DREAMS ARE IF I’M JUST WILLING TO WORK HARD.

For intern Leah A., finding a new direction in life was as simple as reading a bulletin board. A FPSYIP posting caught her eye one day while working at a child care center in 2009, starting her on a path that lead to her current position as a medical billings officer for the Government of Nunavut.

Excerpts adapted from:  A Model Space For Learning

A Recipe For Successful Collaboration

The new program space at the Centre Branch YMCA is much less a classroom, and much more an engaging, collaborative, technology-rich environment that’s drawn rave reviews from facilitators and participants alike.

The idea that FPSYIP and CIC have created much more than a program room for participants was on full display during  a recent site visit by Dan Trepanier, National Program Manager, and  User Adoption, Wiki Platform Manager,  John Zeus.

London: A Space To Remember

Imagine a room with an impossibly high ceiling, filled with furnishings, artwork and amenities so far removed from a traditional classroom environment that program participants often don’t want to leave the room. That’s the secret behind the converted space used by FPSYIP, CIC and other programs, courtesy of this unique collaborative effort. The new space incorporates technology that includes a smart board, internet-enabled computer, a projector with pull-down screen, a large-screen flat panel TV and a Wii gaming console, with furnishings that range from oversized beanbag futons to an inclusive square of tables and chairs for a dynamic face-to-face presentation environment. One thing is for certain: the FPSYIP space within the downtown London YMCA makes an immediate, yet lasting, impression.

Full video podcast

“One intern summed it up nicely. He said, ‘There’s a reason that we quit school, and we want to go into any space is something OTHER than a classroom.’ This space fosters and enhances the different learning styles of the participants. You can really keep their attention, even at 2:30 in the afternoon.” – Dan Trepanier

“It’s very comfortable. Like home. It doesn’t feel like a classroom. A facilitator can get very creative delivering an essential skills program in a workshop room like this.” – John Zeus

Read more: Internship Success