WestEd
WestEd, the host of WebDialogues, is a research, development, and service agency committed to expanding opportunities for education, communication, and collaboration in the public policy arena and education. The organization is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains 16 offices nationwide.
WestEd's work and services are broad in context, encompassing many fields partnering with government and non-governmental organizations. Through resources, services, programs, and projects, we address many issues in human development, from birth to senior care, and in education, from pre-service into the world of work. In addition, WestEd focuses on disseminating relevant, research-based knowledge targeted to the needs of key audiences. The depth, diversity, and history of work, coupled with extensive on-the-ground experience and focus on using research-based knowledge, contributes to WestEd expertise and success in helping others.
WebDialogues is a part of WestEd Interactive . The program offers other WestEd programs and external businesses and organizations an array of digital and multi-media production and communication services that use the web to encourage collaboration among organizations and individuals. WestEd Interactive’s resources manage information and communication, maintain original content and unique identity, and increase internal security, and quality control measures. Our partners conserve technical and financial resources, while benefiting from technology applications that help them accomplish more often working across multiple sites in an integrated manner. WestEd Interactive partners with organizations such as Apple, Hewlett Packard, Macromedia, Wimba, and WGBH to extend its information infrastructure.
WestEd Interactive serves as an application service provider to both WestEd projects and clients, including NASA, the Education Commission of the States, the Coalition of Essential Schools, the National Writing Project and the U.S. and California Departments of Education.
Dialogue Development Team
The WebDialogue development team, led by Laurie Maak, is composed of highly experienced Web developers, database architects, content and video specialists, and graphic designers. In the last five years, the team developed and/or provided support for over 100 projects, ranging from simple website brochures to highly complex data management systems that support agency infrastructure functions. Our tools and systems empower our clients to focus on process and content, while providing cutting-edge functionality to create an effective experience for visitors to their sites.
Laurie Maak has evolved a structure and process that enables individuals, subject experts and policy makers to share and discuss information and ideas in an organized, productive and personalized online environment. WebDialogues are based on her in person and online experience bringing together students, adults and subject experts to inform, engage and inspire. In the last eleven years she has developed and produced large-scale national online dialogues on a wide variety of policy issues including Great Lakes Water, pandemic influenza, state and national education, the E-Rate, social security reform, campaign finance, public involvement in federal agencies, and a variety of topics relevant to high school students.
Technical Capacity
WestEd maintains its client websites on a series of Linux servers configured to provide extensive back-up capability. The servers are housed at two Internet service providers' co-location facilities that have very high-speed OC12 backbone connections, long-term generator back-up systems, 24/7 security, and extensive fire protection. Applications operate using Apache and MySQL database software coupled with software from Community Servers, Inc. created with PERL. Additional software in use includes ModPERL, JAVA and PHP scripts.
