This section of the Help Collection describes how Curriki is currently extending and improving the features and functionality of the site.

RIGHT NOW:

The next release is scheduled for the end of June/beginning of July, and includes the following--

New Home Page & Site Organization: Look for a redesigned home page and updated navigation that make clearer what it's possible to do on Curriki ("Find," "Contribute," and "Connect"). An animated definition of Curriki will play for visitors to the new home page who have the Adobe Flash Player installed.

Form-Based Resource Creation: These new forms will enable members to create wiki resources inside Curriki's main site, without using the Currikulum Builder, and without knowing anything about wiki syntax. One form creates a simple wiki resource, while the second form creates a wiki lesson plan using a template. Another lesson plan template with a special framework from Nortel LearniT will be available later in July. 

Improved "Add Paths": This wide-ranging project reworks the way members contribute to Curriki, hopefully creating a more consistent and intuitive user experience. Look for "Build Up" links that mean you can build up the collection or folder you're looking at by adding to it. When you click "Add," a new drag and drop interface enables you to add into any collection for which you have rights, including your personal collections and those for groups you belong to. 

Specific Changes to Site Pages & Areas ~Jul-07-2008

For people who regularly use the site, we want to make sure you aren't surprised by the pending changes so will describe specific additions and changes here:

• Home page -- new content, organization, and animated site definition
• Left navigation menu -- new order and organization; only sub-menu items will take users to destinations
• About Finding & Collecting -- new page offers basics for accessing, bookmarking, and organizing resources from the Curriki repository
• About Contributing -- new page offers basics for contributing to the Curriki repository, including adding and creating learning resources
• About Connecting -- new page offers basics for collaborating in a group, sharing resources with friends, and providing feedback
• Sitewide "contribute" menu -- members clicking "Add a Resource" or "Build Up" in the main site will see a consolidated menu of six or seven options for adding and creating resources on Curriki
• Simple Wiki Resource -- new form which members can use to create wiki resources in four easy steps
• Curriki Standard Lesson Plan -- new form which members can use to create a wiki lesson plan from a template in four easy steps
• Advanced Search: Language will be available as a search criteria.
• Any repository resource, the View tab -- new one-click "Favorite" link for members to collect resources they want to remember
• Any repository resource, the View tab -- "Add" link for members to add the resource they are viewing into any of their collections or their group collections
• Any folder- or collection-level repository resource, the View tab -- "Build Up" link for members to build up the folder or collection they are viewing by adding into it
• My Curriki, the Favorites tab -- "Add" link for any listed resource enables members to place it in another collection or folder
• My Curriki, the Contributions tab -- "Add" link under the Actions heading enables members to add the listed resource into any of their collections or their group collections
• My Curriki, the Collections tab -- "Build Up" link at right of listed collections enables members to build up collections by adding into them
• Any Group, the Curriculum tab -- "Build Up" link for listed collections enables group members to build up their group collections by adding into them
• Any group, the Curriculum tab, View All Contributions -- new "Add a Resource" button at the top of the tab lets members contribute directly into their group's Contributions; new "Add" link at right of any listed resource enables members to add the listed resource into any of their collections or their group collections
• Currikulum Builder -- "Add" button in Table of Contents will read "Build Up"; the menu of options seen upon clicking the Build up button, titled "Add Within the Currikulum Builder," will look slightly different and the current "Template" option will no longer be available.
• Login page -- updated page will offer information about why visitors might want to register to become Curriki members
  
   

LATER THIS YEAR:

There are dozens of projects lined up for the rest of 2008 and into 2009. Immediately after the above changes take place, the following projects commence:

Integrating the Currikulum Builder Functions into the "Main Site": Members who choose to create, edit, and organize resources on Curriki will find these functions available in Curriki's main site, instead of having to use the separate Currikulum Builder tool. This will make it easier for members who find resources to immmediately collaborate on and improve existing curricular materials, and create new ones.

Search Improvements: The whole way "search" works on Curriki will be re-engineered to make it perform better -- both more quickly, and more accurately. We're also looking to enable sitewide searching so that users can get results for matching content in member bios, blogs, group mastheads, etc.

Flag Content: This new feature will enable members to highlight inappropriate content for immediate review by Curriki staff.

Forums: Curriki wants to make it easy for the member community to discuss ideas and issues about education. In late 2008, we hope to launch Curriki Forums, where all members can participate once or often in themed discussions.

Additional Form-Based Templates: Curriki is working with partners to develop more tools for easy curriculum development.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING ON:

Internationalization

One of Curriki's big behind-the-scenes efforts is to make sure that all of Curriki's user interface elements (toolbars, navigation, links, buttons, etc.) can be easily translated so that people all over the world can use the site in their native languages. We are currently able to offer some basic interface elements in French and Russian. The site is currently being translated into Hindi, Spanish, and Bahasa Indonesia.

New Repository Content

Dozens of projects are underway for adding content into the repository, including:

• Content partnerships with Nortel's LearniT and many more
• Grant program for master curriculum units
• Pilots with multiple organizations and institutions