City as a Campus (CaaC) is an open-source platform0 for creating connected learning communities. The platform contains sets of tools for learners, organizers, and community anchors1.
As a result of the City as a Campus platform's open source nature, each city anchor should fork the main platform to operate however they feel is best. However, each city anchor should set up an "Advisory Panel" of about 5 people2 that review and curate learning opportunities. The processes shouldn't be extremely formal, but we (the volunteers at City as a Campus) think there are some fundamental practices that should be recognized to ensure success.
The Anchor Advisory Panel should consistently search for possible learning opportunities to add to their platform. One workflow is to:
- Email/Tweet the organizers of existing local learning opportunities a link to our platform to enter their opportunity to ensure successfor review
- Email qualified organizations that would possibly sponsor new learning opportunities with a description of the platform and how sponsoring would be mutually beneficial. Include a phone number to a volunteer from the Anchor Advisory Panel
Using the Admin Portal, the Anchor Advisory Panel should review each new learning opportunity before making it public. One workflow is to:
- Ensure the learning opportunity doesn't already exist
- Ensure the learning opportunity data is valid (date/time, description, logo, name, location, sponsoring organization, etc)
- Perform a one-time, informal credibility check on the instructor (Google search them to ensure there are no obvious "red flags" and review their background in this field)
0 Currently in development phase right now, however.
1 "Anchors" are organizations that set up and host their copy of the City as a Campus platform. For example, The Sprout Fund is the "Anchor" for Pittsburgh, which is using the CaaC platform.
2 This number may grow as certain local experts/organizers will naturally "partner"/regulary help.