Remember the joy of being a care-free kid? Do you remember the excitement of field trips – going new places, and seeing and learning new things? Now consider the age of the Internet. Each of us “Web surfers” take field trips every day as we travel from one website to another. We meet people we know (Facebook), and we interact with people we do not know (Web forums). We also see (YouTube) and learn (Blog posts and news articles) something new along the way.
Take joy in the limitless exploration and opportunities found on the Internet. Your Internet-connected device is a portal. The destination of that portal is up to you for better or for worse. These field trips are not merely journeys to a destination, however. They are connections with a worldwide community and with a world of sub-communities.
So what do people do? What do you do? Individuals in the online community tend to fall into three categories: 1) Creators (those that create content), 2) Lurkers (passive readers that consume content), and 3) Contributors (those that respond to others’ thoughts/conversations). Most of us assume more than one of these roles, but we still tend to be more of one than another. To be honest, I have been more of a lurker over the years. Even when I am engaged in an online conversation, I am seldom motivated enough to respond. On the other hand, there are people that always feel the world needs to hear what they have to say. :) I have seen over the years that being a creator has many benefits, but that is a threshold I have yet to cross.
At this point in my life, I spend most of my time gleaning knowledge from the online communities. I am a Web designer, so I spend a lot of time honing that craft. I do create content for Web as part of my job, but not extensively.
In short, what field trips do I take in the world of online communities? Facebook, Web forums, YouTube, Wikis, Google+, blogs, and email conversations. Wow. No wonder I am hard pressed to find free time.
So where do you go? What do you do? What does your family do?
I appreciated that you took an analytical perspective before you dove right into how you participate in online communities. I feel I am a member of each of the three online community participants you listed. I create blogs and flipcharts to share, I consume a great deal of knowledge through reading online articles and research, and I am a contributor through my comments to blogs and forums.
ReplyDeleteHow do you use wiki’s? I know what they are but I do not fully understand the purpose and how they are created? I too love YouTube! I forgot to list that in my own blog. I log in for a variety of videos. I am really into TeacherTube as well. I teach math and there are lots of examples for me to import into my presentations. Have you ever visited TeacherTube? Dr. Stewart introduced me to GodTube last semester. It is interesting to log on to the cite when you need spiritual encouragement, want to hear your favorite Christian song, or need someone to pray for.
There are numerous online communities. How do you think these communities affect the face-to-face communities? I have heard several sermons about how people are more disconnected now than ever before. Do you agree? I feel disconnection is one problem with online education. I am a believer in the power of face-to-face interaction. I value that I have had a few professors that have had us meet online because the interaction during these sessions is invaluable. I also feel that I am choosing to be disconnected with some people because it is easier to email or text someone than to call them. I do not like talking on the phone, so I email or text because it takes less time. I then catch myself feeling lonely when I have gone days without talking to anyone other than my husband and I realize that it’s my own fault.
I enjoyed your posting, your perspective and the points that you made. Have a blessed week!
I, like you, frequent Facebook, YouTube, emails, and blogs. I can see where online communities and technology has changed life in more than one way. When I was on active duty in the US Navy in the early 90's we did not have availability to any type of conversations that did not include the telephone. A few years ago as a Navy reservist I went out on the USS Truman. While I was out to sea I was able to access Facebook, email, and Blackboard. It was awesome to be able to communicate with the outside world and continue to complete school work while many miles from home. Online communities have opened many opportunities and will continue to find ways to connect people socially and in the world of education.
ReplyDeleteComparing this daily activity for each of us to mini field trips was a tremendous way of presenting this topic. After considering your angle, I quickly realized that I have really taken the convenience for granted. It wasn't too many years ago that if I wanted to see what Jamestown was like the only way to do it would be to visit or look at a book. Now we have the opportunity to go anywhere we want in a matter of seconds. Great post!
ReplyDeletePersonally I spend most of my time researching whatever it is that interests me at the time and a few minutes a day on some of the social networks. Five minutes a day is probably my average on these networks. What an awesome tool we have at our disposal!
RE: Tiffany
ReplyDeleteWikis provide a great opportunity for two or more users to collaboratively work on a project. You could have a group of students work on a one-page research project that includes audio and video. They could each work on the same wiki together instead of each doing it separately.
One great example is to have a class with each student assigned a different topic. They each write about his/her assigned topic and incorporate YouTube videos, audio, and images (either other-created or self-created) to make a dynamic lesson on that topic. Each student has one page on the wiki so that when everyone has finished, the whole class can see everyone's pages. Some educators have actually called this a “student-created textbook.”
Wikispaces (http://www.wikispaces.com/) and PB Works (http://pbworks.com/) are both free wiki creation sites that I have enjoyed using in the past. Wikispaces actually has a “Wikispaces for Educators” page to help educators get started. Check it out here: http://www.wikispaces.com/content/for/teachers.
Cheers,
Michael
RE: Cecelia
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Cecelia. I would be really interested to know how those serving in the Navy (and military in general) have benefited physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually from the increased connection with family and friends through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and emails. There is likely research available on this, but I would love to hear your take on it since you have lived with and without that added connection with friends and family. Beyond friends and family, I would imagine just the added connection with the outside world in general could be beneficial especially in the more isolated areas.
I would definitely call myself a content creator; moreso in the past, but I still contribute occasionally. I got into social media and social networking because I wanted to create digital content; it was after that that I really started being a consumer as well. It's been fun seeing how digital media has improved in quality in the last several years, even as more people get involved with it.
ReplyDeleteI also see people who stuck with their content creation as I scaled back, and I often kick myself when I think about what could have been. Bloggers who I used to email back and forth with, who I would trade posts and comments with, are getting book deals and starting their own publishing companies. I haven't written anything original other than reviews in far too long, and I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had stayed consistent.
Then I tell myself to get on with it, and start plotting my next great idea -- hoping that by the time I can get to work on it that someone else hasn't had the same big idea.