What is the Star Point Collaboration Process?

A. Summary:

A Star Point is developed by an assigned author using threaded discussions with a selected review panel. A Star Point document represents the views of the author, not the review panel.

B. Key Points:

· A Community Room leader may assign a Star Point topic to an author

· The author researches the topic

· The author writes the first draft of the Star Point and emails it to the editor

· The editor will post it to the Star Points Rough Drafts document library in the Star Academy

· When the Star Point is considered ready for reviewing, the editor will move it to the Star Points Ready for Review document library

· The review team uses the Sharepoint discussion feature to ask questions, make comments or suggest corrections, and collaborate with the author to get the Star Point “right”

· The author decides which changes to incorporate into a second draft of the Star Point

· A second round of collaboration occurs in the discussion with the review team

· The author selects which parts of the second round of collaboration is incorporated into a second draft

· The final draft, in General Star Point Format is sent to a Star Academy editor for publication

· For corrections, updates or clarifications on this Star Point, please email bgoodman@afsc.org

C. Details:

Step 1. When a Community Room leader becomes aware of the need for a new Star Point, s/he assigns a Star Point (SP) topic to someone who will be the author of the SP. Often the author will write a group of related Star Points. The leader and the author select up to three people to serve on a review panel. The collaboration among the author and the review panel occurs in a discussion attached to the Star Point.

Step 2. The author researches the topic. S/he will make use of many research tools, including the use of www.wikipedia.com, co-workers, the review panel and experts in fields related to the topic.

Step 3. The author writes the first draft of the Star Point and sends it to an editor. The editor immediately posts it to the Star Points Rough Drafts Room until it is considered “finished” enough to be posted in the Star Points Ready for Review document library. Even if the Star Point is not finished, because it is in the Rough Drafts room, others will know that this topic is being worked on and they will not inadvertently write a duplicate Star Point. When ready for review, the editor will post the Star Point in the Star Points Ready for Review discussion library.

Step 4. The review team collaborates with the author using the discussion feature in Sharepoint. They will give the author feedback. This will include comments, suggestions for improvements, and questions. Each response is posted in a separate sub-thread, so that an effective threaded discussion can be followed.

Step 5. It is understood that the Star Point reflects the view of the author only. The collaboration process does not require the author to accept the changes suggested by the review panel. The author has the choice of selecting which parts of the collaboration to incorporate into a second draft of the Star Point, which is then posted in a new thread.

Step 6. A second round of collaboration occurs in the threaded discussion with the review team.

Step 7. The author selects which parts of the second round of collaboration to incorporate into a second draft.

Step 8. The final draft, written in General Star Point Format is sent to a Star Academy editor who will publish it in the Star Academy. The editor’s job is to make sure the Star Point format has been followed and the quality of the information is of a high standard. If the author has done his/her job correctly, the editor does not have to make any changes. The editor also has the responsibility to ensure that the Star Point fits within the objectives and principles of the Star Café. The editor does not have the responsibility to edit what is said or how it is stated. The editor will email the author the URL for the link to the Star Point.

Step 9. In the last line of the Key Points the author’s email address is placed for readers to ask for clarifications or for them to suggest corrections. The author has the ongoing responsibility to receive corrections, updates or clarifications on this Star Point from the users of the Star Café. This contact name should be kept up to date as personnel change.