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- Contributed By: Curriki Team
Why do we need guidelines for resources in the Curriki repository?
Guidelines for Optimizing Search Engine Results using Information Metadata
When adding or creating any type of resource, Curriki members enter and select information metadata. These entries and selections appear on the “Information” tab for resources, and some are displayed on rollover of resource titles.
Keep in mind the following guidelines for information when adding or creating a new resource, or when editing an existing resource:
* Some resources are created for use by educator(s), and are not meant to be used directly by the learner or student. Other materials can and should be directly accessed by students. If you contribute a resource that a student could interact with directly, please include "student-facing" as a Key Word. More information about Information Metadata is available in the following sections of the Help Collection:
Guidelines for Optimal Display & Access using Leveled Collections The repository is designed to allow you to create collections that include sub-folders which may also include sub-folders, and those last sub-folders could contain more sub-folders. So a collection may look like this:
Collection Level 1
Folder Level 2
Folder Level 3
Folder Level 4
For the purposes of designing collections that are most easily “consumed” in the Curriki display, you may want to consider the number of levels you implement. Four is the maximum suggested number given the constraints of the Table of Contents display, etc.
Guidelines for Collaborative Editing
When members update the display and content of a file resource by editing it in the Content tab, they are given the option to enter a “Revision Note.” If you make changes, it is good “wikiquette” to enter a brief note about any edits you submit. Your note should describe what you changed to create that version of the resource and will appear in the Revision History.
You can update the information metadata for resources within the Information tab. In this case, the system automatically generates notes for the Revision History.
You may also use the Comments tab for a resource to describe how and why you are changing that resource.
Guidelines for Content Accuracy, Pedagogy, & Technical Completeness
Curriki offers guidelines on developing high quality resources through the Curriki Review System (CRS). A great way to help others find high quality resources is by nominating them for CRS review. Look for the “Nominate for Review” link when you are logged in and viewing a resource. This will place the resource on the Curriki Review queue for evaluation by an expert educator.
Guidelines for Basic Suitability
Resources should be contributed in abidance with Curriki’s Terms of Use. A resource is not suitable for Curriki if:
Curriki attempts to do a File Check on every contributed resource for basic suitability at the time it is first added to the repository. If you ever find a resource that that concerns you, please make sure you are logged in and Flag the resource.
- People use search engines to find content online. Following guidelines when adding, creating, or editing Curriki resources will help people find these resources BOTH when searching on Curriki AND ALSO through other search engines (like Google).
- It’s very easy to add, create, and edit publicly accessible resources, so we need established guidelines to inform those community capabilities. Choices we make when adding, creating, or editing resources impact which resources people find.
- Our shared goal is the development and dissemination of the highest quality, most useful curriculum resources; establishing “best practices” will help ensure quality, consistency, accessibility, and usability.
Guidelines for Optimizing Search Engine Results using Information Metadata
When adding or creating any type of resource, Curriki members enter and select information metadata. These entries and selections appear on the “Information” tab for resources, and some are displayed on rollover of resource titles.
Keep in mind the following guidelines for information when adding or creating a new resource, or when editing an existing resource:
- Every resource should use a short, unique Title*. This is especially important if the resource is copied from an existing resource. It’s also good to consider how the title will appear in listings and other interfaces, such as search results, My Curriki, the Table of Contents, and the bread crumb. The title should be concise, as you will be able to add more detail in the Description.
- In the Description*, state how the resource fits into a larger resource or instructional context (i.e., “This lesson on Mars is part of a unit on the Solar System.”). The Description can be found on the Information tab or appears in a pop-up when someone rolls over the title of your resource.
- Even if your resource is interdisciplinary, correlate it to no more than three top-level Subjects; if you correlate to too many subjects, your resource shows up too much in search results, frustrating other users.
- Align any resource with the Educational Level(s) of the target learner for the curriculum. Consider the levels where the resource is most likely to be used, and not all of the areas where it could be used. Additional information about audience can be expressed in the Description.
- Provide Key Words* to make sure the topic and content of your resource is fully covered in the information. This is a great place to implement your own “folksonomy” or “tags” to help return applicable resources in search results.
- Mark the resource for the Language in which it is written or communicated.
* Some resources are created for use by educator(s), and are not meant to be used directly by the learner or student. Other materials can and should be directly accessed by students. If you contribute a resource that a student could interact with directly, please include "student-facing" as a Key Word. More information about Information Metadata is available in the following sections of the Help Collection:
- About Information Settings
- Video Tutorial: How to Edit Resource Information
- Rights Holder & Licensing
- Access Privileges
- Instructional Component Type (ICT)
Guidelines for Optimal Display & Access using Leveled Collections The repository is designed to allow you to create collections that include sub-folders which may also include sub-folders, and those last sub-folders could contain more sub-folders. So a collection may look like this:
Collection Level 1
Folder Level 2
Folder Level 3
Folder Level 4
For the purposes of designing collections that are most easily “consumed” in the Curriki display, you may want to consider the number of levels you implement. Four is the maximum suggested number given the constraints of the Table of Contents display, etc.
Guidelines for Collaborative Editing
When members update the display and content of a file resource by editing it in the Content tab, they are given the option to enter a “Revision Note.” If you make changes, it is good “wikiquette” to enter a brief note about any edits you submit. Your note should describe what you changed to create that version of the resource and will appear in the Revision History.
You can update the information metadata for resources within the Information tab. In this case, the system automatically generates notes for the Revision History.
You may also use the Comments tab for a resource to describe how and why you are changing that resource.
Guidelines for Content Accuracy, Pedagogy, & Technical Completeness
Curriki offers guidelines on developing high quality resources through the Curriki Review System (CRS). A great way to help others find high quality resources is by nominating them for CRS review. Look for the “Nominate for Review” link when you are logged in and viewing a resource. This will place the resource on the Curriki Review queue for evaluation by an expert educator.
Guidelines for Basic Suitability
Resources should be contributed in abidance with Curriki’s Terms of Use. A resource is not suitable for Curriki if:
- It is clearly objectionable (contains pornography, hate, vandalism, etc.).
- It is a link to a commercial web site where no free educational resource is clearly available on the entry page.
- It is not educational content, and it is not contextualized (i.e., used within a lesson) to make it educationally useful.
- It is a broken link or file.
- It breaks the display or functionality of the Curriki.org site, or is an attachment with a virus.
- It has access privileges setting of Public or Protected and is completely empty or has very incomplete content.
- It is copyrighted material that the member did not originate (i.e., it is not the member’s own intellectual property) or that the member is not expressly authorized to post.
Curriki attempts to do a File Check on every contributed resource for basic suitability at the time it is first added to the repository. If you ever find a resource that that concerns you, please make sure you are logged in and Flag the resource.
The Access Privileges setting enables members to use Curriki for iterative development of curricular content. In other words, if you want to begin creating a resource but do not want it to be seen by others until you have completed it, you can use the Access Privileges setting.
By setting a resource to "Private," you make it viewable and editable only by you. The "Private" setting can be used as an equivalent for "Draft." It helps the community to locate useful resources in the repository if content that is still in draft is set as Private; this way, totally raw resources (like unedited templates) do not clog up search results listings.
When you are ready to make a resource available on Curriki.org, you can change the Access Privileges setting to "Protected" (viewable by others) or "Public" (viewable and editable by others). The "Protected" or "Public" settings can be used as an equivalent for "Publish."
To Update Existing Resources to/from “Private” (aka Draft):
By setting a resource to "Private," you make it viewable and editable only by you. The "Private" setting can be used as an equivalent for "Draft." It helps the community to locate useful resources in the repository if content that is still in draft is set as Private; this way, totally raw resources (like unedited templates) do not clog up search results listings.
When you are ready to make a resource available on Curriki.org, you can change the Access Privileges setting to "Protected" (viewable by others) or "Public" (viewable and editable by others). The "Protected" or "Public" settings can be used as an equivalent for "Publish."
To Update Existing Resources to/from “Private” (aka Draft):
- Go to "My Contributions" and find the resource you want to hide from the community, or that you are ready to publish.
- Click "Edit Info" for that resource. (You can also choose to view the resource, then select the Information tab and click “Edit”.)
- Scroll down to Access Privileges.
- Choose the appropriate setting, depending on whether you want to hide a draft from the community (Private), or are ready to publish (Public or Protected).
- Click "Save". The resource will reload with your new Access Privilege setting.
- If you choose to add or create a resource, you are directed through a series of steps.
- When you see the "Set Required Information" screen, you will fill in a title and description, and will set the resource's subject and educational level.
- Next, scroll down to Access Privileges.
- Choose the appropriate setting, depending on whether you want to hide a draft from the community (Private), or are ready to publish (Public or Protected).
- Continue filling in the metadata and adding your content, then click “Save”. The resource will be created with your new Access Privilege setting.
If a member creates a resource that uses the default "public" setting under Access Privileges and the default Curriki License, the member is making and publishing open source curriculum; the resource is available for other members to edit and use at will.
As a member, you will often have the power to click "Edit" for a resource. For instance, when you see a resource on the Content tab, you will see a series of links at the top right of the tab, including "Edit." Clicking "Edit" will open the resource for you to make updates, however you should consider carefully before editing other people’s contributions.
When to Edit:
When reviewing other members' resources, you may recognize a content area where you have subject matter or technical expertise and where you could provide input to improve a resource. In this case, it's probably appropriate to edit the resource, assuming your changes are aligned to the objectives for that resource, as it exists in its original context.
When to Copy:
If you are designing your own curriculum, you might locate resources in Curriki's repository and want to develop them further, so that a resource, or part of a resource, better meets your own needs for application in your own specific teaching or learning context. In this case, it's probably better to copy the resource.
In the process of copying, you are prompted to save a new title and description for the resource; it is your responsibility to update these fields enough that someone searching for a resource can easily understand how your version differs from the original version.
You may also want to watch the video tutorial "When & How to Copy a Resource".
As a member, you will often have the power to click "Edit" for a resource. For instance, when you see a resource on the Content tab, you will see a series of links at the top right of the tab, including "Edit." Clicking "Edit" will open the resource for you to make updates, however you should consider carefully before editing other people’s contributions.
When to Edit:
When reviewing other members' resources, you may recognize a content area where you have subject matter or technical expertise and where you could provide input to improve a resource. In this case, it's probably appropriate to edit the resource, assuming your changes are aligned to the objectives for that resource, as it exists in its original context.
When to Copy:
If you are designing your own curriculum, you might locate resources in Curriki's repository and want to develop them further, so that a resource, or part of a resource, better meets your own needs for application in your own specific teaching or learning context. In this case, it's probably better to copy the resource.
In the process of copying, you are prompted to save a new title and description for the resource; it is your responsibility to update these fields enough that someone searching for a resource can easily understand how your version differs from the original version.
You may also want to watch the video tutorial "When & How to Copy a Resource".
Member comments and ratings are located on the Comments tab for each resource. Any Curriki member can comment on and/or rate any resource in the Curriki repository any number of times. This is the location for:
We recommend that you only apply a single rating in order to avoid bias in the average Member Rating score. If you need to edit your rating at any time, see the instructions for how to Comment & Rate.
You may also want to watch the video tutorial "How to Comment On & Rate Resources".
- providing feedback to the contributor of the resource about its content
- offering suggestions to others about using the resource, based on your experience
- raising questions about the resource
- connecting the resource to other related materials
- providing a numerical rating (on a scale of 1-5) of how useful you find this resource
We recommend that you only apply a single rating in order to avoid bias in the average Member Rating score. If you need to edit your rating at any time, see the instructions for how to Comment & Rate.
You may also want to watch the video tutorial "How to Comment On & Rate Resources".
When you find an interesting resource on Curriki, or if you add materials which you'd like to have rated based on the Curriki Review criteria, you can nominate these resources for review. Nominated resources are added to the Curriki Review System’s (CRS) queue.
To nominate, follow these simple steps:
To nominate, follow these simple steps:
- Make sure you are logged in; only members may nominate resources for review. If you are not yet a member, register now.
- Find the resource you wish to nominate and click to see it in view mode.
- Find the section that displays a ribbon icon + link, located to the right of the contributing member’s name.
- If the resource has not already been nominated, you will see a "Nominate" link, which will enable you to submit your nomination.
- If the resource has already been nominated, but not yet reviewed, you will see “Review Pending”.
- If the resource has already been reviewed, click on the review score. You will be taken to the “Comments” tab. From there, click “Nominate for Review” to suggest that the resource be re-reviewed.
Members can Flag a resource if they question its usefulness or appropriateness for the global education community.
Resources that exhibit the following characteristics should be flagged:
The Flag feature is only meant to identify resources that are unusable or inappropriate for the community as a whole; members should not flag a resource for including content that differs from their own pedagogy or beliefs.
Resources that exhibit the following characteristics should be flagged:
- promotes hate or violence
- displays pornography
- is empty or blank
- is obviously commercial in nature, without clear educational relevance
- is broken or has a virus
- appears to be copyrighted and incorrectly shared as “open source”
The Flag feature is only meant to identify resources that are unusable or inappropriate for the community as a whole; members should not flag a resource for including content that differs from their own pedagogy or beliefs.
When creating a resource on Curriki, one of the optional metadata fields is for Key Words. This field should be used to enter words or phrases (in addition to the title) that may help users find your resource in a search.
When deciding which key words to enter, think about the following:
You do not need to enter terms that are covered by the other metadata that is collected, for instance, you do not need to enter which subjects are associated with the resource since that data is collected in a different field of the form.
When deciding which key words to enter, think about the following:
- What are some catch phrases or primary terms used in the resource?
- Is the resource student-facing? (See Teacher & Student-facing Resources.)
- Is the resource in a language not included in the language list (“Other” is selected)? If so, what language? Try to enter the language’s name in both English and the native tongue.
You do not need to enter terms that are covered by the other metadata that is collected, for instance, you do not need to enter which subjects are associated with the resource since that data is collected in a different field of the form.
When a member gathers materials in well-described/tagged folders or collections, "Hide from Search" allows the materials to be found in a useful and helpful context, and delivers a cleaner, more targeted search result.
Search uses a combination of title, user, description, keywords, and other tags to display material. "Hide from Search" is a box that can be checked to keep a particular resource from coming up by itself during a search. That means that even if the title, description, or tags appear in the query, the resource will not.
It is generally recommended that resources be hidden from search if their best display is clustered with other like materials (i.e. within a collection). In that case, the relevant folder or collection where the resource appears will be returned in search results, but the individual resource (which may be out of context by itself), is not returned.
For example, you may want to create a collection of materials to use during a week-long class. The materials might include a lesson plan, some reference material, a movie, and a diagram. While all of these materials may work very well together, perhaps the diagram is not useful when taken out of context. In this example, the diagram should be marked “Hide from Search” so that it only appears within the collection.
To Update Existing Resources:
Search uses a combination of title, user, description, keywords, and other tags to display material. "Hide from Search" is a box that can be checked to keep a particular resource from coming up by itself during a search. That means that even if the title, description, or tags appear in the query, the resource will not.
It is generally recommended that resources be hidden from search if their best display is clustered with other like materials (i.e. within a collection). In that case, the relevant folder or collection where the resource appears will be returned in search results, but the individual resource (which may be out of context by itself), is not returned.
For example, you may want to create a collection of materials to use during a week-long class. The materials might include a lesson plan, some reference material, a movie, and a diagram. While all of these materials may work very well together, perhaps the diagram is not useful when taken out of context. In this example, the diagram should be marked “Hide from Search” so that it only appears within the collection.
To Update Existing Resources:
- Go to "My Contributions" and find the resource you want to hide from the community, or that you are ready to publish.
- Click "Edit Info" for that resource. (You can also choose to view the resource, then select the Information tab and click “Edit”.)
- Scroll down towards the bottom of the page, where you will see “Hide from Search”.
- Check the box next to “Do not show this element in search results” to hide the resource, or un-check the box to allow it to be found by itself.
- Click "Save". The resource will reload with your new setting.
- If you choose to add or create a resource, you are directed through a series of steps.
- When you see the "Set Required Information" screen, you will fill in a title and description, and will set the resource's subject and educational level.
- Next, scroll down to the “Rights and Access Information” area.
- Check the box next to “Do not show this element in search results” to hide the resource, or un-check the box to allow it to be found by itself.
- Continue filling in the metadata and adding your content, then click “Save”. The resource will be created with your new setting.
Curriki strives to enable distribution and use of curricular materials to the widest possible audience. In order to help you contribute resources to the Curriki repository that will be broadly accessible, we’ve come up with the following preferred file formats for each media type. These formats represent the types of files we see most often, and which users seem to have little to no issues retrieving from the repository.
For additional information on file formats and how they are used on Curriki, including common problems and links to download free software you can use, see the File Formats section of the Help Collection.
Please note that MS Office 2007 file types ".docx", ".xlsx", and ".pptx" are NOT listed as preferred formats since most users have not yet upgraded to MS 2007. See the Document Version Compatibility section of the help collection to get ideas about how to share MS Office documents among users with different versions of the MS Office software.
| Media Type | Preferred File Formats | Use | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Wiki | Create simple resources on Curriki | All resources created with templates and forms are created as Wiki text, which can be rendered to print properly more easily than HTML or attached files. Also, this file format allows members to edit the content with the WYSIWYG editing toolbar to easily format the content. |
| Text | HTML | Embed outside content in a resource | Wiki is not as compatible with complicated embed code, so HTML is preferred for this type of activity. |
| Attached File | - OpenOffice formats - MS Office formats, 2003 or earlier (.doc .xls & .ppt) | Attach a simple file | OpenOffice is free, open-source software you can use to create and view basic office files. Adobe PDF and Microsoft office formats (prior to 2007 versions) are the most commonly used and recognized formats for attached files. |
| Image | .jpg | ||
| Video | Any format | Files that are .mov or .qt will convert better than .wmv files for playing on Curriki. | |
| Interactive | .swf | SWF files are the only type currently supported in this category. | |
| Archive | .zip | This is the most common type of archive, and also allows additional features to be utilized on the site. |
Please note that MS Office 2007 file types ".docx", ".xlsx", and ".pptx" are NOT listed as preferred formats since most users have not yet upgraded to MS 2007. See the Document Version Compatibility section of the help collection to get ideas about how to share MS Office documents among users with different versions of the MS Office software.
In order to represent yourself on Curriki, you can add an image to your member profile or a logo for your group. The image or logo for the contributing member or group is displayed when viewing a resource, and may also be displayed in other locations on the site.
For best results, we recommend that your image be no larger than 120w by 80h (measured in pixels). Your image may be scaled to a slightly larger or smaller size depending on the area of the site where you are viewing the image.
In the future we hope to add a feature that will scale uploaded files when they are first added to the site (rather than page by page), but for the time being Curriki must rely on members to upload images that are formatted properly for the best display. For best results:
For best results, we recommend that your image be no larger than 120w by 80h (measured in pixels). Your image may be scaled to a slightly larger or smaller size depending on the area of the site where you are viewing the image.
In the future we hope to add a feature that will scale uploaded files when they are first added to the site (rather than page by page), but for the time being Curriki must rely on members to upload images that are formatted properly for the best display. For best results:
- Files should be no larger than 200kb
- Files should use a web format such as JPEG, GIF, SVG, or PNG.
- You may also want to avoid images that are very tall or very wide, as they sometimes do not scale elegantly. Try to keep your image within the 120w by 80h recommended dimensions.
