Drupal Open Learning: Roles, Responsibilities, Benefits, and Incentives

The following roles, responsibilities, and benefits are being defined during the initial stage of the Drupal Open Learning Initiative.

Operations

The following activities are necessary to keep both the program and associated website(s) operational and sustainable.

• Roles
  • Program Management
  • Business and Strategy
  • Fundraising
  • Marketing and Outreach
  • Documentation
  • System Administrator
• Budget/Funding sources
  • Direct funding via Individual donations, Corporate sponsorships, and Grants
  • Project funds - TBD % of each project will be allocated as overhead

Technology

Activities pertaining to production of tools and technology.

• Roles
  • Project Manager
  • Designer
  • Themer
  • Developer
  • Tester
  • Technical communicator
  • Infrastructure
• Budget/Funding sources - Cost should be estimated on a per project basis at a client rate.
  • Sponsors will have the option to fund the program and/or any particular project.

Production

The Drupal Open Learning Initiative will create a media education program to compliment the Drupal Dojo. After the initial period, all activities pertaining to production and content creation will be funded through the media program.

• Roles
  • Multimedia Producer
  • Editor
  • Writer
  • Event producer
• Budget/Funding sources - This cost will initially be part of the funds raised for the pilot program
  • Direct funding via Individual donations, Corporate sponsorships, Grants
  • Project funds - TBD % of each project will be allocated as overhead

Mentors, Apprentices, and Volunteers

Apprentice

• Roles/responsibilities
  • the apprentice is ultimately responsible for completing their project or task
  • the task or project will vary from simple bug fixes, documentation, to working on real projects
• Benefits
  • stipend (if applicable) will depend on the nature of the role (development, design, business, etc.), level of expertise, and involvement in the project
• Skills required
  • a desire to learn and pick up new skills
• Number of apprentices required
  • As many as possible!
• Time Commitment
  • Actual time requirement will vary depending on the scope of the project. But plan on roughly ~10-30 hrs/week

Mentor

• Roles/responsibilities
  • be a resource person for your apprentice
  • helping them to scope out their project, making sure it's staying on track
  • communicating with the organization administrators.
  • On a day-to-day basis, you might be doing code reviews, helping the apprentice to find resources that will help them over hurdles, or helping to shepherd a young contributor in the ways of the Drupal Ninjas.
• Benefits
  • stipend (if applicable) will depend on the nature of the role (development, design, business, etc.), level of expertise, and involvement in the project; this will often times be determined by the level of expertise/involvement of the apprentice.
• Skills required
  • Competent/Advanced skills in the area of your expertise
  • Kindness, patience, and being good at explaining things.
  • Extra bonus if you've mentored a successful student before!
• Number of mentors required
  • As many as possible!
• Time Commitment
  • Actual time requirement will vary dramatically by apprentice/project. But plan on roughly ~10 hrs/week

Project Idea Curators

• Roles/responsibilities
  • find faults (in a nice way) with proposals
  • If what they propose duplicates another project or is too vague, let them know
  • give advice on how they might change it to fit in more with the community's needs.
• Benefits
  • stipend tbd
• Skills required
  • Kindness, patience, a critical eye
• Time Commitment
  • ~ .5 hour per proposal

Project Idea Thinker Uppers

• Roles/responsibilities
  • propose projects and tasks valuable to the Drupal community
• Benefits
  • code!
• Skills required
  • An itch, and the ability to communicate how you want it scratched.
• Number of volunteers required
  • As many as possible!
• Time Commitment
  • ~2-3 hours per proposal