The Office of Head Start introduced online Collaborative Workspaces as a new tool in January 2004. This tool is used for the following purposes:

• Professional development
• Collaborating on projects
• Forming a nationally recognized network of experts
• Accessing expertise
• Connecting the Training and Technical Assistance Network

After an initial pilot test involving 200-250 people who joined one or more workspaces, the project continued to grow. As a result, OHS and ACF Regional Office Federal staff, regional TA contractors, and designated national contractors have expanded the use of the workspaces. Participants continue to identify, develop, and share resources and knowledge to improve Head Start services.

Workspaces

At this point, all workspaces are by invitation only. There are a variety of workspaces to meet the needs of the TTA network. One workspace is dedicated to each of the six major content areas covered by the TA System (Administration/Fiscal, Disabilities, Early Learning and Literacy, Family and Community Partnerships, Health and Infant/Toddler). These six workspace teams develop and collect resources such as bibliographies, webliographies, existing TA Materials, and FAQs. The materials include PowerPoint presentations, assessment instruments, work sheets and other instructional and summary tools, leading and exemplary practices, success stories, and lessons learned. If the resources are considered useful to a broader audience, they may be posted on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC). In addition, there is a workspace for Local Technical Assistance Specialists who work in the field. There are other workspaces specific to priorities including Mental Health and Research to Practice Workspaces. As these two workspaces mature, they will expand.

Special Practices on Three Workspaces
Administration/Fiscal Workspace—Virtual Team Relationships

The Administration/Fiscal workspace has found the key to success is to support its members by creating virtual team relationships. Muriel Richardson, Federal Team lead, explains that the workspace offers a contact person (a Subject Matter Expert at the Head Start Knowledge and Information Center) for member support. This ensures that members receive rapid responses to questions in their content area, alerts on topics discussed on conference calls, and technical help with workspace use.

Disabilities Workspace—Resource Development

Jim O’Brien is the Federal Team Lead on Disabilities issues. He reports on three projects developed with workspace member participation and designed to assist Disabilities TA Content Specialists to work with grantees. These products will be posted on the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center.

• The first is a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on disabilities issues to address grantee needs for policy information.
• The second project is based on Program Information Report (PIR) data. Based on discussions and requests, Disabilities Services PIR Summaries were developed and sent to the regions for comment. The reports include state level data for use by Disabilities TA Content Specialists in follow-up discussions with grantees.
• Finally, there is a synthesis of common features in Memoranda of Understanding (MOAs), posted on the workspace as an informational tool for members.

Family and Community Partnership Workspace—Videoconferencing

Head Start Knowledge & Information Management Services Subject Matter Expert Jacquie Davis said that videoconferences offer a more animated view of the participants, better involvement and responsiveness to questions, and strengthen relationships.

• At the January 2006, National TA Network Meeting, workspace members concurred that they would have better and more responsive participation if they replaced conference calls with videoconferences.
• In 2006, workspace members took a leadership role on monthly videoconferences on the following topics: Family Literacy, ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance), Fatherhood, Health, and Community Assessment. Jacquie reports that this workspace has become more vibrant and effective due to this practice.

“I am delighted that the Collaborative Workspaces are a place for sharing ideas openly. It is important for network members to communicate with each other online using new technology to better focus resource development.” —JoAn Knight Herren, Chief, T/TA Branch