CDB readers may know of the struggles written here to solicit Maricopa people to share their instructional materials and teaching ideas in our Maricopa Learning eXchange (MLX) which is at almost 1100 items. Our efforts have included bribery and competition, but have yet to embrace physical threats. If I had a buck for every time someone told me “I am going to take some time next month to get you some MLX items” I’d be retired on my own private island.
Out of those 1100, probably 200 are there as direct result of online reports to other electronic systems, maybe 60 are things we have entered in other people’s names so we could populate web sites with content (see how the winners of the Innovation of the Year program are pumped from the MLX to its own site).
The same goes for an ePortfolio platform, developed at one of our colleges, that we have had running for more than a year. The take up for a free system has been, well sluggish, with 45 published titles sitting there (counting one of mine and one by some guy named “Biff”)
So let’s here it for surprises from unexpected places. A few days ago I got an email:
John Arle suggested I contact you. I am an adjunct at Phoenix College and my MGT276/Human Resources course will be fully online this coming Fall. I am interested in building a package for the MLX warehouse. John has indicated that this has many purposes including helping me market the course as it will be searchable on Google.
If you don’t mind, could you reply when you get the chance and let me know what I need to do in order to get this process started? And if I need any approvals from my dept chair I can get that going as well. I’m sure she’ll be supportive.
One last question. I also found something called Maricopa ePortfolio, which appears to be separate from MLX. Is that true? What are the differences, do you know? Should I build both?
I responded with some URLs for our getting started materials in both the MLX and the Maricopa eP, and let her know it was all self service.
In less than 2 days, she had already produced a nicely formed eportfolio for her class materials, and then she listed this as an item in the MLX:
I just wanted to let you know that I set up both my ePortfolio and MLX sites and to compliment you and your team. These sites are very user friendly! I couldn’t believe how easy it was to set these up. And I’m very pleased with the results.
Just wanted to say “thanks” and “kudos” to you. If you have any feedback on what I’ve done, please feel free. I’ve pasted my links below.
http://eport.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/published/j/is/jiskiyan/home/1/
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mlx/mine.php?id=585
I just have to say wow. An adjunct faculty has done more in 2 days than… well a lot of other, full time, experienced faculty.
Wow, and thank you Jill for restoring some of my faith.
