Bookstack Curriculum
- Module 1: Introduction to BookStack
- Module 2: Creating and Organising Content
- Module 3: Advanced Content Management
- Module 4: Practical Use Cases for BookStack in the Social Sector
- Module 5: Maintenance and Best Practices
- Conclusion and Feedback
Module 1: Introduction to BookStack
Objective: Familiarise participants with the tool’s layout and navigation for content management.
1. Overview of BookStack
- What is BookStack?
- Purpose and benefits of using BookStack for documentation.
- Examples: Use cases for organising policies, project documentation, and training materials. Show PATTIC before/after.
- Key Elements: Books, Chapters, Pages.
- Hands-on Exercise: Explore an existing BookStack setup. Navigate between books, chapters, and pages.
3. Understanding Roles and Permissions
- Explanation of user roles (Admin, Editor, Viewer).
- Example: How permissions can be set to allow specific team members to edit certain books or chapters.
End of Module Exercise: Participants locate specific content, demonstrating comfort with the interface and navigation.
Module 2: Creating and Organising Content
Objective: Learn how to add, structure, and edit content within BookStack.
1. Creating Books, Chapters, and Pages
- Step-by-step guide to creating a book, adding chapters, and creating pages.
- Hands-on Exercise: Create a book with chapters and pages.
2. Organising Content for Accessibility
- Tips for structuring content logically for different audiences.
- Example: Arrange chapters to guide readers through a topic, such as “Volunteer Training.”
3. Editing and Formatting Pages
- Using text editor tools: headings, bullet points, images, and tables.
- Hands-on Exercise: Add an image to a page, format a list, and insert a table to practice common content editing tasks.
End of Module Exercise: Create a sample chapter and page structure that reflects an organizational need, such as team guidelines or a policy handbook.
Module 3: Advanced Content Management
Objective: Understand additional features that enhance the usability and functionality of BookStack.
1. Tagging and Searching
- How to tag content for easy searchability.
- Example: Tag pages with “Policies” or “Project Reports” to categorize documents.
2. Page Revisions and Version Control
- Tracking changes and restoring previous versions.
- Hands-on Exercise: Make edits to a page, view revision history, and revert to an older version.
3. Linking and Organizing Information
- Adding internal links between pages for cross-referencing.
- Example: Link a “Resources” page to various project-specific pages.
End of Module Exercise: Participants link different sections within a document to create a cohesive, easy-to-navigate structure.
Module 4: Practical Use Cases for BookStack in the Social Sector
Objective: Explore use cases and inspire participants to apply BookStack to their work contexts.
1. Use Case 1: Knowledge Base for Team Members
- Scenario: A non-profit maintains a knowledge base on project strategies and resources.
- Activity: Structure a sample knowledge base on BookStack.
2. Use Case 2: Volunteer and Donor Documentation
- Scenario: Organising information for volunteers and donors, like training modules or impact stories.
- Activity: Create a mock “Volunteer Orientation” book.
3. Use Case 3: Collaborative Policy Development
- Scenario: Teams collaboratively develop policies with input from multiple stakeholders.
- Activity: Create a book titled “Organisational Policies” with sections for HR, Finance, and IT.
Discussion: Encourage participants to brainstorm specific BookStack applications within their organisations, discussing potential structures and content types.
Module 5: Maintenance and Best Practices
Objective: Equip participants with skills to manage and maintain content effectively over time.
1. Regular Content Review and Update
- Establishing a routine for content review.
- Example: Monthly updates for project pages or quarterly policy reviews.
2. Consistency in Content Formatting
- Tips for maintaining a consistent structure across pages for a cohesive look.
- Exercise: Apply a standard format to a page, using headings, lists, and tables as per organizational guidelines.
3. Managing User Access and Permissions
- Tips for updating permissions as teams change.
- Example: Grant temporary access to volunteers working on a specific project.
Final Activity: Review key takeaways and each participant shares one way they plan to apply BookStack to their work.
Conclusion and Feedback
- Wrap-Up: Recap the modules and emphasise the tool’s adaptability.
- Feedback Session: Gather insights on training clarity, areas of interest, and additional support needed.