GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The Web 2.0 is fast becoming an unifying Internet based platform for information gathering, dissemination, publishing, accessibility and communication tool. Taking over from the earlier platform of Web 1.0, emerging Web 2.0 is a relatively novel tool combining such facilities/applications as Google docs, Alerts, Feeds, e-mailing, Google Search, Blogging (website management), Social networking (Facebook and Linkedin), Online Mapping (Open Street Map/Google maps) and Voice messaging (Skype & Nonoh).
The Web 2.0 is fast becoming an unifying Internet based platform for information gathering, dissemination, publishing, accessibility and communication tool. Taking over from the earlier platform of Web 1.0, emerging Web 2.0 is a relatively novel tool combining such facilities/applications as Google docs, Alerts, Feeds, e-mailing, Google Search, Blogging (website management), Social networking (Facebook and Linkedin), Online Mapping (Open Street Map/Google maps) and Voice messaging (Skype & Nonoh).
A CASE STUDY:
CTA/NAERLS Web 2.0 Learning Opportunity, Zaria,
16 - 20 May, 2011
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The training took off with a brief Opening ceremony in the NAELS Conference Hall on Monday, 16th May, 2011. About 25 participants registered for the training that took off by 10.00 a.m. at NAERLS, ABU, Zaria. I was among the trainees that registered for the training that held for five days, 16 – 20 May, 2011.
2.0 COURSE CONTENTS:
The following are the breakdown of the course contents;
- Introduction to the participatory World Wide Web (Web 2.0)
- Search Magic: How to conduct advanced multilingual online searches;
- Information Self Service: How to get selected information served to you via alerts and RSS feeds;
- Remote collaboration: How to develop content remotely using wikis and Google Docs;
- Online mapping: How to locate your organisation and your projects on a online Map;
- How to communicate voice over the internet at no cost;
- Online publishing (microblogging and blogging);
- Professional / corporate social networking (LinkedIn and Facebook);
- Web 2.0 self-instruction (introduction to iMARK).
A copy of the Time Table for the 5 day training is attached to this report.
3. 0 DAY BY DAY ACTIVITIES
DAY 1: OPENING SESSION
About 25 participants registered for the training that took off by 10.00 a.m. at NAERLS, ABU, Zaria. The Opening ceremony was chaired by the Executive Director, NAERLS, Professor S. Z. Abubakar who delightfully welcomed the resource persons, the organizing team and the participants variously drawn from national institutions in Nigeria, namely: IAR, Zaria, NAPRI, Zaria, ARMTI, Ilorin, NVRI,Vom LCRI,Mauduguri, NFRI, New Bussa, ARCN, Abuja, and NWRI, Kaduna. Other institutions that had representation at the Training were: Fadama Project, Hassan Usman Polytechnic, Katsina, Directorate of Academic Planning, and PostGraduate School, ABU, Zaria.
Professor Tunji Arokoyo, Training Coordinator, gave an introductory remarks on the training, detailing the background and what informed the training. In his welcome address, Professor S. Z. Abubakar, NAERLS Director disclosed that the training will afford the participants with the benefits to themselves and other potential trainees. The CTA representative, Mr. Johnson Opigo delivered the Opening remarks on behalf of Dr. Rodger Obubo CTA's Training Programme's Manager who was unavoidably absent. In his speech Dr. Obubo emphasized CTA's role in conducting Web 2.0 training across Africa. He urged all participants to avail themselves of the unique opportunity presented by the course. In his own remarks Mr. Opigo challenged participants to be prepared for an intensive training and also be ready to impart the knowledge they would gain into others.
TECHNICAL SESSION
The Training session per see began with the Lead Resource Person, Mr. Johnson Opigo who used the Power Point presentation on the topic: Introduction to the Participatory World Wide Web (2.0). He introduced the participants to the meaning and usefulness of the Internet/World Wide Web and its application with the Web 2.0 Tools. He made use of illustrations and videos to explain Web 2.0 concepts. He emphasized on the fact that WEB 2.0 has become a veritable means of interaction, information gathering and dissemination, publishing, and community development.
The second presenter, Mr. Aregbe Bunmi Ezekiel gave practical online operations on Google ALERTS (RSS ) and iGOOGLE Reader. During this session, the participants now began to employ the benefit and use of their Gmail account already opened for the training.
DAY 2 TUESDAY, 17 MAY 2011
The next day, the training continued with intensity, involving a review of the previous day`s lessons. Mr Aregbe, Bunmi A. Ezekiel concluded his presentation on Alerts, RSS and iGoogle. This was dominated with more practical and demonstration. Mr Johnson Opigo introduced the participants to the Advanced Use of Google search engine - a versatile resource for information gathering and accessibility involving multilingual translation, calculations and use of short-cuts. Both the Lead resource person and the Assistant (Messrs Opigo and Ezekiel respectively) jointly gave the presentation and explanation on the topic: Online Publishing (Blogs), spices with copious examples, videos and illustrations. The day's activities was concluded with Review and Evaluation.
DAY 3, WEDNESDAY 18TH MAY, 2011
The Lead Resource person and the Assistant intensified their presentations/follow-up on the trainees, Today, lesson on Blogging was concluded and assignment given to each of the five groups the trainees were divided into, to carry out a project by creating group blog. Training also was given on the following, Google docs, Form design and Social Networking (with particular attention to Wikis).
DAY 4, THURSDAY 19TH MAY, 2011
Today, the training session on practical aspect of Blogging, and Group assignment was carried out. Each of the Trainee Group was asked to submit its assignment web address online.
Other topics covered in today's training session were: Google maps, Social Networking (using LinkedIn) and Talking VIOP.
DAY 5, FRIDAY, 20TH MAY, 2011
Today, the batch of trainees for Web 2.0 Learning opportunity in NAERLS/ABU, Zaria were taught the following: Linking people to your Blog with LinkedIn, Using iMARK, Using DropBox and sharing Google Maps. Generally, as the training came to its end today, the team of Resource persons took the trainees through Revision, and Evaluation (online) of the course.
A brief Closing ceremony took place during which the Executive Director, NAERLS, addressed the trainees. He appreciated heir endurance during the training, and assured them of the plan to intensify the conduct of similar training especially among the relevant institutions within the Agricultural Sector in Nigeria. Mr Johnson Opigo, in response expressed appreciation to the authorities in ABU/NAERLS for hosting the Training, and moreso making efforts in putting in place high tech infrastructural facilities tat would eventually make Web 2.0 reachable to the staff. The Training eventually came to a close with a group photograph of the participants.
4.0 OVERALL OBSERVATION/RECOMMENDATIONS
In view of the tremendous opportunities included in the training and the benefits accruable to the trainees include the following:
- That the training afford its beneficiaries the Web 2.0 opportunity
- Create his/her own blogs,
- Interact more with others in far away locations through social networking,
- Use the advanced Google search engine,
- Edit and publish document is improved mode,
- Use telephoning via VIOPs facilities,
- Chatting and text messaging with internet, translation of web contents and information management.
- Keeping and updating documents in Cloud
5.0 CONCLUSION
It is obvious from the Web 2.0 training that it is imperative that an opportunity for the adoption and efficient use of the range of tools it contains should be made available to the key personnel of our institutions so as to keep them abreast with their contemporary in the developed world. If this is achieved, our corporate existence will be greatly sustained and the so-much desired progress would be made attainable.
