Authors' Guidelines

A practical document has been prepared to support an author in his approach to writing a story.

WHAT IS A STORY?

Profweb wants the entire collegial community to know how IT is being used in the educational community through real experiences and stories. A story presents a real-life application or integration of IT in the curriculum by a teacher or an IT Rep. Consequently, the story aims to make public one or more realised activities which can be considered educational to teachers and students alike.

WHO CAN CONTRIBUTE?

Priority is given to teachers and IT Reps. Any other member of the collegial community may write a story, or recount the experience of another teacher.

WHERE WILL THOSE STORIES BE PUBLISHED?

Two locations present stories: 1) the Profweb Web site "Stories" section and 2) the section titled "Stories" in the Clic bulletin. Where possible, a pedagogical scenario inspired by the story may be produced and integrated into the scenario-based database found in PerfecTic. A story can be presented on Profweb at all times. Each story will be accessible through the "Stories" page where it will be archived as more recent stories are posted. As for the Clic bulletin, the column will be published four times a year. Consult the Web site at clic.ntic.org!

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLISHING THE STORY?

Animaweb or one of his/her collaborators is responsible for the on-line publication of a story and, if applicable, forwarding it to the person in charge of the Clic bulletin.

WHAT FORMAT SHOULD BE USED?

A story consists of a text between 600 and 800 words in length, written in a journalistic style. It may be accompanied by pictures, sounds, or a video. In the latter instance, Profweb will not present the complete text but only a summary of the story and and information about the the person who experienced it.

WHAT ARE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO PRODUCE A STORY?

1. The story must first be suggested by the intended author through the on-line suggestion form in the story section. The completed form is sent to Profweb;
2. Profweb communicates with the person who suggested the story;
3. Profweb gives his/her first approval and a deadline;
4. The author submits his/her story to Profweb;
5. Profweb e-mail to Author of Distribution Authorization;
6. Author e-mail to Profweb of completed and signed Distribution Authorization;
7. Final approval is granted by Profweb;
8. Profweb produces and publishes the story on-line.

WHAT GUIDELINES MUST BE FOLLOWED?

All contents must conform to Profweb’s Editorial Policy. Other useful guidelines to keep in mind:

• Choose a catchy title;
• Present the person who is interviewed and include his/her e-mail address;
• If the story consists of a person’s testimony, use the authorisation form;
• Supply a picture of the person interviewed;
• Write a text of approximately 600 to 800 words, or much less if accompanied by sound or video;
• Reply to comments;
• Use short titles, sentences, and paragraphs throughout the text;
• Check the grammar and spelling of the final text to be submitted;
• Include page numbers, if applicable;
• Use regular footnotes (for the referencing of electronic documents, you may want to refer to Comment citer un document électronique?, at http://www.bibl.ulaval.ca/doelec/citedoce.html);

The format and size of accepted files are as follows:

• Text (with or without hyperlinks): .doc; .rtf; .pdf (for a document which will be downloaded by the reader);
• Table: Word and Excel;
• Spreadsheet: Excel;
• Animation: Applet Java, Flash (.swf);
• Video: Quick Time (max. 150 MB : ± 15 min.) in continuous mode;
• Sound: MP3;
• Image: JPEG or GIF;
• Slides: PowerPoint (.ppt).

In general, a file should not exceed 3 MB. If the document contains video, the total size of all files should not exceed 150 MB.