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An Update for Users of the KEEP Toolkit and Frequently Asked Questions
 CF-KEEP Users: If you have opted to migrate your account to MERLOT, beginning on or around October 31, you will receive an email notification, and you will be able to log into www.merlot.org with your KEEP password and start using the MERLOT Content Builder. You will have full access to all of the materials you’ve created with the KEEP Toolkit at that time. For more information, contact the MERLOT Webmaster at webmaster@merlot.org.
Carnegie Foundation initiatives are typically designed to develop new ideas, models and tools that can eventually move out into the broader community. After a decade of development and use, we believe this is the right time for the KEEP Toolkit to make this same transition.
As previously announced, Carnegie’s commitment to supporting the KEEP Toolkit service will wind down in the final months of 2009. The purpose of this message is to provide a timeline for this transition and to inform users about options for continued access to the KEEP service and content.
A Collaboration with MERLOT
MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) has generously agreed to host and support the KEEP service, and provide a new, integrated repository for the Carnegie KEEP collection.
MERLOT is a nonprofit, higher education consortium that supports a leading edge, searchable collection of more than 21,000 higher education, online learning materials, catalogued by more than 70,000 registered members. MERLOT's strategic goal is to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning by increasing the quantity and quality of peer reviewed online learning materials that can be easily incorporated into faculty designed courses.
Through this cooperative initiative with the Carnegie Foundation, MERLOT will offer Carnegie KEEP users who choose this option continued, free access to their KEEP collection through MERLOT’s website at www.merlot.org where both MERLOT and KEEP users will realize synergistic benefits from the integration of the two collections. KEEP users will be required to become registered users in MERLOT (it is free to join). Registered users accessing the integrated system will have full access to MERLOT repository functionality; they will also be able to create new KEEP Snapshots and ultimately submit them for inclusion in MERLOT’s collection of learning materials and for consideration for peer review. For more information, see the frequently asked questions below.
What is MERLOT?
MERLOT is a non-profit, higher education consortium that supports a leading edge, user-centered, searchable collection of peer reviewed and selected higher education, online learning materials, catalogued by registered members and a set of faculty development support services. MERLOT's vision is to be a premiere online community where faculty, staff, and students from around the world share their learning materials and pedagogy. MERLOT's strategic goal is to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning by increasing the quantity and quality of peer reviewed online learning materials that can be easily incorporated into faculty designed courses.
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Why is this move from Carnegie to MERLOT happening?
After a decade of developing and supporting the KEEP Toolkit, the Carnegie Foundation is stepping down from this role. In order to continue the level of service and support KEEP users have come to expect, MERLOT has partnered with Carnegie to take over the KEEP Toolkit operations. MERLOT will not only host current and future KEEP snapshots, but will provide user support services and an opportunity to have KEEP snapshots catalogued in the MERLOT repository.
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How will this move benefit me?
As a MERLOT member you will have the option of cataloging your KEEP snapshot in the MERLOT repository where it will have much higher visibility and will be eligible for peer review. There are many other benefits to being a MERLOT member including access to over 20,000 online learning materials, the ability to contribute materials you’ve authored or those you’ve found on the web, the ability to comment on materials in the collection and create personal collections, and the ability to create assignments based on MERLOT materials.
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Do I have to be a member of MERLOT to access my KEEP work once it is migrated to MERLOT?
Yes, but your membership in MERLOT will happen automatically. Once KEEP is fully migrated, you will need to sign in to MERLOT with your member username and password (which will be provided to you) to access the KEEP Toolkit.
Do I have to complete a user profile in MERLOT to become a member?
If you chose to have your KEEP portfolio migrated to MERLOT you will automatically be given MERLOT membership, and set up with a personal profile that includes your name and email address. The next time you log in to MERLOT you will be prompted to enter the organization or educational institution you are affiliated with (this is required information for all MERLOT members). After this, it is entirely up to you whether you’d like to add more information to your profile, but we encourage you to complete as much of your profile as you can, as this is how you will be presented to the 73,000+ other members. MERLOT provides you with the following profile fields: Affiliations, Contact Information, Skills and Interests, Education History, Positions, Publications, Associations, Honors and Awards, Teaching Experience, and Presentations. You will also have the ability to generate your curriculum vitae directly from your MERLOT profile.
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How or when will I have to become a member of MERLOT?
MERLOT and Carnegie will work together to determine when membership will transfer. If you opt in to the KEEP migration, you will automatically become a MERLOT member and you will be sent an email notifying you of your membership and access to your profile. If you are already a member of MERLOT, you will not have to do anything.
What are the benefits of being a MERLOT Member?
See “How will this move benefit me?”
What if I’m already a MERLOT member and also have a KEEP Account?
If you are already a MERLOT member, you will still need to choose to have your KEEP portfolio migrated to MERLOT, but your portfolio will be automatically attached to your current MERLOT profile – a new membership will not be created. Important: the email address listed in your KEEP account MUST MATCH the one in your MERLOT profile to ensure that your current MERLOT account is used. If these email addresses do not match, we will not be able to “attach” your MERLOT account to your KEEP portfolio.
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How will this move affect the KEEP snapshots I’ve created? Will they look or behave differently?
No. For the snapshots you’ve already created, the files will not be altered in any way. They will look and feel exactly the same. Only their location will change – they will have a new URL.
Will the snapshot URL's I have given out for my materials in KEEP be redirected to their new location? If so, for how long?
MERLOT and Carnegie are working out the details regarding redirection of the URL’s. When more information is known, it will be posted here.
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Will I retain ownership of everything I have created in KEEP once it moves to MERLOT?
Yes. You will retain ownership of any snapshots you’ve created in KEEP as well as any future snapshots you create.
What if I don’t want to be a part of MERLOT? Can I take my snapshots and leave?
If you don't want to migrate to MERLOT you can download static HTML versions of snapshots using KEEP's "download" function on the dashboard. The static HTML document and associated files can be placed on any web server. The files can be given new filenames as well. Check the KEEP website for information for how to do this.
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How will the MERLOT Content Builder be different from the KEEP Toolkit? Am I going to have to learn a whole new program?
The goal of this migration is to have as seamless a transition as possible. There will be some minor changes to the look and feel of your dashboard as we integrate the KEEP toolkit into MERLOT, but the functionality of the application will essentially remain the same.
Who will I go to for support once my snapshots are on the MERLOT site?
If you are having trouble using the MERLOT Content Builder, MERLOT will be creating a tutorial once it is launched on the MERLOT website. If you need support beyond this, you can email the MERLOT Webmaster at webmaster@merlot.org.
I’ve heard of the MERLOT repository. Are my snapshots going to be in that repository when they are migrated?
You will be given the option to submit each of your current snapshots, as well as any future snapshots you create, as a learning material to the MERLOT collection.
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Are my snapshots going to be reviewed by faculty?
Registered users accessing the new MERLOT Content Builder will have full access to MERLOT repository functionality. Ultimately users will be able to submit the snapshots for inclusion in MERLOT’s collection of learning materials and for consideration for peer review. See our Peer Review Process for more information.
How long will it take from the point I can no longer edit or create new materials in KEEP until I can edit or create new stuff in the MERLOT Content Builder?
After October 15, 2009 you will no longer be able to access CF-KEEP. MERLOT plans to release the Content Builder (formerly known as KEEP Toolkit) at the end of October. For more information, contact the MERLOT Webmaster at webmaster@merlot.org.
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