Stewart Mader

Stewart Mader is founder, photographer, and editor of Elevator View. He also serves as director, Social Media and Online Tools at CFA Institute. Since 1999, Mader has helped organizations around the world harness the immense potential of the Web to increase information value, collaboration, and customer engagement.

He has led the design and development of digital media projects including CFA Institute Communities of Practice, Future Changes, Wikipatterns (Atlassian Software), Chemistry Language Project (Brown University), and The Science of Spectroscopy (NASA Space Grant). He is the author of two books: Wikipatterns (Wiley, 2008) and Using Wiki in Education (Lulu Press, 2006), and two films: Skysight – The Story of SOFIA (2005) and Seeing the Scientific Light (2002).

He earned a B.S. in Chemistry from University of Hartford and an M.S. in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from University at Albany.

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Projects

Elevator View

Elevator View is New York, photographed from elevated perches throughout the city. Tall buildings owe much to the elevator – the engineering advancement that made quick travel beyond a few stories feasible, and directly contributed to the race to build ever-taller buildings that began in the early 20th century. The “view from the elevator” metaphorically speaking, represents the idea of a broad, expansive view from a perspective high above the din of everyday life.

Visit Elevator View

CFA Institute Communities of Practice

In 2011, he led the development and launch of CFA Institute Communities of Practice, information hubs on fifteen major investment topics that combine the best publications, audio, and video produced by CFA Institute with the latest insights curated from Twitter users.

Each Community of Practice features a story rotator that highlights five highly relevant articles, webcasts, and podcasts, a list of the most popular and highest rated topical content on cfainstitute.org and Twitter lists curated by CFA Institute subject matter specialists to include people who are consistently tweeting relevant, high-quality links and information. Additional tools on each Community of Practice allow you to subscribe via RSS for notifications when new content is available, contact a CFA Institute topical expert, or search the full library of content from CFA Institute.

Visit CFA Institute Communities of Practice

Future Changes

From 2005-2010, he developed, launched, and served as editor of Future Changes, a widely-read weblog and podcast on information design, content strategy, wikis, and collaboration that has been cited by The New Yorker, The Guardian, CIO Magazine, InfoWorld, InformationWeek, and The New York Times. Highlights:

UN: Collaborative Technologies and the Future of Disaster Aid September 2010
Your Boss, Your Blackberry, and Your Privacy December 2009
“Information Wants to be Free. It Also Wants to be Expensive.” October 2009
Rules are for Impatient People September 2009
Chris Aheam: Reuters Wants You to Link to Their Articles August 2009
How do Successful Institutions Respond to Disruptive Change? October 2009
JetBlue’s Test Group Helps Enterprise Wiki Adoption June 2009
NPR is Thriving (They’re Not Afraid of Digital Media) April 2009
How to do a Better Job of Project Collaboration April 2009
Jon Stewart: Media Should be Powerful tool of Illumination March 2009
The Daily Show: Most Trustworthy Source of Journalism? March 2009
Would You Pay 5¢ to Read This Article? February 2009
The Idea of a Replacement for Steve Jobs is Misguided January 2009
Apple Design: Why It’s the Firm’s Biggest Strength March 2008
The “One Size Fits All” Mentality in IT Must Go Away October 2007

Wikipatterns.com

Stewart led the creation of Wikipatterns.com, a knowledge base for collaboration and content management best practices sponsored by Atlassian Software. He developed the information architecture (View a wireframe), managed development, user testing, product launch, publicity, and customer outreach to build a vibrant community.

The growth and success of the site led to a book publishing contract with John Wiley & Sons for Wikipatterns, which he wrote and published in 2008. Wikipatterns has received rave reviews and is one of the Top 100 Social Media Books. Mader is also author of Using Wiki in Education (2006), a collection of case studies from educators around the world that explores the impact of collaboration tools on education.

Visit Wikipatterns.com

Atlassian Software: Confluence

Atlassian Software hired Stewart to advise customers of its flagship knowledge management product, Confluence. He worked with a diverse group of companies, including Adobe, Apple, Fidelity Investments Center for Applied Technology, Johns Hopkins University, LeapFrog Enterprises, MBF Group, Pixar, PwC Australia, Records Management Association of Australasia, and Thales Group.

Read Stewart’s writing on collaboration at Atlassian Software

Brown University: iTunes U

At Brown University, he led the Division of Biology and Alpert Medical School’s pilot of iTunes U. Brown was one of the first six schools chosen by Apple to be involved in the development of iTunes U, and Stewart helped test and refine functional prototypes for batch upload, metadata, audio, video, and image organization, and analytics. He also helped develop, test, and refine a workflow for automated recording, metadata capture, and uploading of lecture audio and video files that was designed so that any instructor could capture their own lectures with as little effort and external assistance as possible.

Chemistry Language Project

He also led the selection, integration, and deployment of Brown’s campus-wide enterprise wiki, and co-developed the Chemistry Language Project, a tool designed to help Brown University graduate students from non-english speaking countries strengthen their understanding, pronunciation, and use of scientific terms.

His team developed a reusable content structure for displaying information about each scientific term, including a definition, images associated with the term, information about its syllable structure and stress pattern, and text and audio examples of use in a scientific and non-scientific context. His work on this project is detailed in Chapter 20 of the recently published book Authenticity in the Adult Language Classroom and Beyond (TESOL Press, 2009).

The Science of Spectroscopy

Stewart co-founded The Science of Spectroscopy, a NASA Space Grant-funded project to enable teachers to build and distribute educational content online. He led this project from concept to product, including content scoping and development, UX design, and deployment of a web content management system. He also wrote, directed, and managed the production team for two companion documentary films that have aired on PBS stations: Seeing the Scientific Light (2002) and Skysight (2005). The Science of Spectroscopy has been featured in the journals Science and Chemistry International, and is a member of multiple curriculum libraries, including the National Science Digital Library, Royal Society of Chemistry LearnNet and the Discovery Channel Guide for Educators.

Emerson College Online Learning Communities

He also advised the Emerson College Online Learning Communities, a project funded by the Davis Educational Foundation, on design, information architecture, and adoption. Prior to that, he served as interim Director of the Faculty Center for Learning Development at University of Hartford.

Skysight – The Story of SOFIA

It could be said that the sky comes alive at night. From Earth’s surface, the brief absence of the Sun brings a spectacle of lights – stars, galaxies, nebulae and planets – a window into the Universe. Explorers have looked through this window for hundreds of years – first from the ground, and now through ever more powerful telescopes that work at the edge of space.

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) will take the largest and most versatile airborne telescope built to date aboard a modified Boeing 747SP 45,000 feet above Earth’s surface to study space.

Buy the Film

Seeing the Scientific Light

How do scientists understand the chemical composition of our universe, study its age and determine the reactive processes constantly taking place at temperatures reaching many million Kelvin?

The answer is Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy is the measurement of the response of matter as it interacts with light, and its many uses extend beyond space science, to weather monitoring, medical diagnostics such as MRI, household conveniences like the microwave oven and countless other facets of everyday life.

Buy the Film

Presentations

Mader has been a speaker at the American Chemical Society, Columbia University, Drexel University, Fidelity Investments, IBM, MIT, NASA, Sacred Heart University, Stanford University, and Traction Software as well as many industry conferences in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He regularly writes for the business and technology press, including Science Magazine, ZDNet, Software Development Forum (PDF), and The Content Wrangler.

Traction Software User Group (TUG) 2009 – Closing Keynote

October 14, 2009 – Providence, RI

Sacred Heart University – Digital Learning Lecture Series

October 28, 2008 – Fairfield, CT
Download from iTunes

MIT – Confluence User Group

June 21, 2007 – Cambridge, MA

Testimonials

Wiki evangelist Stewart Mader may love the technology, but what he really loves is the productivity that the technology can bring about when properly implemented.
- Where Wikis Meet Content Is Where The Magic Happens

Stewart articulates the benefits of wikis clearly and comprehensively.
He’s the voice of experience.
Audience Member – Stanford Tech Brieﬁng

There’s not many humans on the planet that know more about wikis than Stewart Mader. Wherever folks are talking about wiki technology, you’ll ﬁnd Mader, explaining how wikis work, how to get folks to use them, how to govern them, and how to use them to solve various real-world challenges.
Scott Abel – Organizer, Web Content and DocTrain Conferences

Clear explanations from an author sympathetic to the confusion and sometimes plain fear that is associated with actively changing any group’s collaborative culture.
Ward Cunningham – from the Foreword to Wikipatterns

Resume

Key Skills

IT Project Management – Managed enterprise wiki, content management and learning management system projects at multiple organizations, and managed multi-year, grant funded research projects.
Curriculum/Training Development & Instructional Design – Led a NASA-funded curriculum development project, provided pedagogical and UI design guidance for Emerson College Learning Communities, and co-led the Brown University Chemistry Language Project. Worked with faculty at multiple universities to redesign and enhance curriculum materials.
Speaker & Facilitator – Developed and led strategy sessions with IT project teams, delivered training and technical workshops for line of business users; frequent speaker at industry conferences
Web Development & Information Architecture – Experience with PHP, XHTML, XML, database integration, Confluence-SharePoint integration, search and UI engineering
Published Author – wrote two books on managing enterprise wiki rollout and adoption: Wikipatterns and Using Wiki in Education, produced two educational films, and published numerous articles and papers on collaborative curriculum development.

Experience

Principal – Future Changes 2005-Present

Led or advised wiki, blog, social networking, and content management system rollouts in Fortune 500 companies, R&D organizations, nonprofit organizations, universities, and small and mid-size companies.
Led strategy sessions to elicit business and technical requirements, and plan adoption from pilot to large-scale rollout.
Facilitated BarnRaising seminars to guide individual teams on software adoption & best practices, and delivered workshops on project & meeting management, building organizational knowledge bases, and onboarding new employees.
Managed stakeholder expectations, issue tracking & resolution, and assessment of user adoption & satisfaction.
Wrote and published Wikipatterns, a book that contains my methodology for managing enterprise wiki & social software projects.

Wiki Evangelist & Consultant – Atlassian Software 2007-2008

Advised Atlassian customers in US, Europe, and Australia on managing enterprise wiki & social software rollout and adoption.
Delivered public and in-house workshops and seminars on wiki uses in business and education.
Assisted in scoping the timeframe, major phases, and deliverables for software rollout projects.

Senior Instructional Technologist for Life Sciences and Alpert Medical School at Brown University 2005-2007

Led university-wide, phased adoption of Atlassian Confluence enterprise wiki, led Medical School adoption of iTunes U, and guided faculty through transition from WebCT 4 CE to Blackboard.
Identified groups, departments, and courses for wiki and iTunes U pilots, and guided their use with workshops, group sessions, and one-on-one meetings.
Worked with IT to establish wiki request procedure, retention policy, and integration with other enterprise services including LDAP for authentication, user and group provisioning.

Educational Technologist at Emerson College 2004-2005

Provided pedagogical and design guidance for the Emerson Learning Portals Project.
Worked closely with faculty to redesign curriculum and assignments to take advantage of technology tools like group discussions, wiki collaboration, and blogging.
Introduced wikis for teaching, research and administrative uses. Worked with faculty to integrate wikis into their courses, and tailor group assignments to take advantage of the wiki.

Interim Director and Instructional Designer – Faculty Center for Learning Development at University of Hartford 2001-2003

Led university-wide adoption of Blackboard course management system, and provided pedagogical and design guidance to faculty.
Managed department budget in excess of $150,000, set priorities for major software and technology equipment purchases, and hired part-time and student staff.
Secured $34,000 in grants to enhance and update department technology and services and create Teaching with Technology Colloquium, an intensive week-long summer workshop.

Instructional Designer and Principal Investigator – The Science of Spectroscopy 1999-2005

Secured $51,700 from NASA to fund project that uses a wiki to enable collaborative curriculum development among geographically distributed teachers.
The project has been featured in the journals Science (PDF) and Chemistry International, is listed by the Royal Society of Chemistry and Intute, and was named a member of 33 Wikis, a showcase of the best in wiki-based collaboration.

Education

M.S. Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology – University at Albany
B.S. Chemistry – University of Hartford

Books & Publications

Wikipatterns
A practical guide to improving productivity and collaboration in your organization.
Using Wiki in Education
10 case studies from education show how to collaboratively build curriculum, guide students’ teamwork, and manage research projects.

Full list of publications in magazines, academic journals, and conference proceedings.

Educational Films

Stewart has produced two films in collaboration with NASA. Seeing the Scientific Light and Skysight let students hear directly from scientists who use spectroscopy in their everyday work. The films have aired on PBS stations and are currently in retail distribution.

Awards and Recognition

Award for Excellence in External Fundraising, 2002, University of Hartford
NASA Research Citation, 2001, 2002
Official Citation from Connecticut Lieutenant Governor, 2001, 2002
American Chemical Society Award for Outstanding Accomplishment, 2001
Alpha Chi, National Honor Scholarship Society, 2001, University of Hartford
Marc. W. Feldmann Memorial Organic Chemistry Award, 1998, University of Hartford

2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005

2009

Jun 18. San Francisco. Sloan-C Sympsium. Panel: “Higher Education Meets the S-Curve”

Jun 15. Chicago. Web Content 2009. Keynote: “Six Degrees of Collaboration”

Mar 20. Palm Springs, CA. DocTrain West. Workshop: “Learn How to Use a Wiki at Work”

Mar 19. Palm Springs, CA. DocTrain West. Keynote: “In With Wiki, Out With Structure”

2008

Oct 29. Boston. DocTrain East 2008: “Should You Call it a Wiki or a Collaborative Work Space?

Sep 8. Porto. WikiSym 2008

Jun 30. Porto. The New Knowledge Forge, University of Porto

Jun 25. Varese, Italy International Forum on Enterprise 2.0

Jun 17. Chicago. Web Content 2008: “How do You Grow Wiki Use?”

May 20. San Francisco. Learn 2.0 SIG Meeting

May 13. IBM Internal Conference

May 6. Vancouver. Doctrain West 2008

Apr 23. San Francisco. Web 2.0 Expo – Wikipatterns.com Theatre

Feb 29. Palo Alto, CA. Stanford Tech Briefing

Feb 22. Vancouver. Northern Voice 2008

Feb 11. New York. O’Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing

2007

Oct 23. Montreal. WikiSym 2007

Jul 5. Brisbane, Australia. Queensland University of Technology – Wiki Symposium

Jun 30. Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia. AusWeb 2007

Jun 21. Boston. Atlassian User Group

Jun 20. Boston. Enterprise 2.0 Conference

Jun 18. Chicago. Web Content 2007

May 18. Montreal. RoCoCo Camp Montreal

Apr 27. Cambridge, MA MIT5

Feb 23. Vancouver. Northern Voice 2007

Feb 2. Portland, OR. RecentChangesCamp