The uses of PIAF and IT in teaching Archival Science Anne-Marie Bruleaux University of Haute-Alsace (Mulhouse, France)

2 What is the PIAF ? Portail international des Archivistes francophones (Portal of International Francophone Archivists) It is a project of the AIAF (Association Internationale des Archives Francophones)

3 Some important dates (1/2) Several meetings were organised by ICA and DAF in Stockholm (CITRA) and Paris. The first idea was to translate into French the courses of IRMT. A new project was defined, supported by AIAF. A course on archival science online Work began: teachers and archivists from different countries met in a seminar in Tunis and decided a program for the section « Se former » (self-training) Feb. 2002

4 Some important dates (2/2) Aug. 2004The prototype of the PIAF was presented at the International Congress on Archives in Vienna The PIAF was inaugurated at the World Summit of the Information Society in Tunis. Nov A new version of the PIAF will be introduced on june 15th. Old portal New portal New portal (from the 15th) Jun. 2008

5 Financial support UNESCO INF (Institut de la Francophonie Numérique) Switzerland France Quebec Canada

6 Three sections Self Training Self Information E-Formation

7 Self-training A universally accessible and free course in archival science composed of seven lessons divided into 14 modules This is oriented to staff working in archives and records repositories (trained or untrained personnel), records managers, archivists, students in archival science, etc.

8 Some statistics 23 authors and a coordinator 2893 web pages 979 pictures 175 glossary references 234 exercises

9 A Tool to Develop and Support Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis and synthesis Evaluation

10 The PIAF: A Tool for Knowledge To deepen understanding To supplement presential theoretical courses For example:  Preservation and Insects

11 Two slides in my course Reference to the PIAF: chapter about InsectsInsects

12 The PIAF: A Tool for Comprehension To support a theoretical lesson A glossary Illustrations  Scenography for exhibitions Scenography Animations  Explanation of the deterioration of documents: books, brochuresbooks brochures Exercises with corrections: arrangement, archival descriptionarrangement archival description

13 The PIAF: A Tool for Evaluation Many multiple choice quizzes (MCQ) online For example: buildings, access 1, access 2, access 3buildingsaccess 1access 2access 3 Potential uses:  Teachers: models to create other MCQs  Students: to test their knowledge and study for exams

14 The PIAF: A Tool for Application To put into practice theoretical knowledge Exercises:  Organisation of stacks Organisation of stacks  Open your eyes on stacks Open your eyes on stacks  Open your eyes on handling Open your eyes on handling

15 The PIAF: A Tool for Analysis and Synthesis A cooperative workspace: e-formatione-formation A virtual space opened to teachers with a project of cooperative work with students Creation of special workspaces (dedicated on-demand workspaces)

16 Disadvantages of a learning platform Until now, learning platforms were not very convenient for cooperative work: students could be read-only or have the possibility to submit their works Moodle is a new kind of platform which is better adapted Most of the time, however, platforms are reserved to students of a specific university and not available externally Problems working out of your organisation: with another organisation or with students in a continuing training program

17 Advantages of the PIAF An open space for everyone, anywhere on the planet Terms of access: Three roles  Read-only: can read everything, but not change contents (except to post comments if allowed)  Member: can submit and change contents. Can participate in a forum  Administrator: can change and eliminate contents. Can change format and participant status

18 Potential Students and teachers from different organisations and countries may work together Different ways according to designated user rights and roles  Students from different organisations working togetherworking together  Teachers and/or students sharing experimentssharing experiments  Intergroup tutorialIntergroup tutorial

19 Working Together Students from Mulhouse and Ebad working together in a same space A group of students in Mulhouse A group of students in EBAD Two groups in one space

20 Sharing Experiments A teacher from Mulhouse with a group of students A teacher from EBAD Invited Observer with a group of students

21 Intergroup Tutorial Students in Master 1 Students in Master 2 Intergroup Tutorial

22 Developed Skills Familiarization of technologies increasingly used in government and business (workflow) Team-player development Team-player management

23 Examples of Use Two projects carried out with students of Master 1 in Archival Science in Mulhouse:  : Les archives du citoyen (Citizenship documents)archives du citoyen  : Les archives du quotidien (Personal documents) Contemporary diplomatics (Practical exercises)

24 Other IT Experiments Use of learning platforms:  Dokeos: for example, to teach encoding finding aids into XML/EADDokeos  Moodle: experimental project (internship follow-up) Moodle  Tutorials in Flash: for example, Using a spreadsheet to arrange archivesUsing a spreadsheet to arrange archives  Second Life ???

25 I will now take your questions Thank you