Social bookmarking is an amazing way to establish yet
another type of community. I say ‘amazing’ because I’m still a rooky when it
comes to using technology for things other than as a substitute for handwriting
letters and lesson plans, and researching and writing research papers. My e-mail keeps me connected to close
friends and my recent Facebook account includes some individuals I would
otherwise never see or hear from, such as friends of my almost-grown children.
I’m reminded of a comment by Richard Schwier from his book, Connections: Virtual Learning Communities. He posits that informal communities
don’t just happen. “They do
not just drop in by accident for the most part, they participate voluntarily,
intentionally, selectively, and purposefully based on what they find of value
in the network”.
I don’t find Facebook to be particularly valuable because it
doesn’t feel like a community to me.
I’m more of a bystander than a participant. I believe I identify with
Schwier’s comments about participation not being equal to engagement. I almost do it grudgingly, so why do it
al all? This is why social
bookmarking may be of more value to me because it’s a tool that can be used
across layered networks/communities of colleagues, friends, and family. “Communities have an edge, a feeling, a
swagger, a propulsion system” - I love this
description on communities in regard to intimacy, as it seems fitting. I
don’t ‘swagger’ on Facebook but I
do with some groups of various persons sharing specific interests that we get charged up about! I
think social bookmarking could be edgy, depending on the group dynamic and what
mutual interests bring people together.
Learning is edgy.
Diigo has a lot to offer as a cloud-based information
management tool. I think I will
use it to make professional connections through the sharing of relevant information with like-minded people.
I could do this with del.icio.us but many computers at my school don’t
support the program – which I’ve never been able to figure out! Diigo offers much more as a social
bookmarking option. I love the
highlight and sticky note options, particularly for sharing in groups and I
like its possible uses for in the classroom, particularly presentations for students and embedding video, sounds,
pictures etc. to engage them –or at least get their attention!
Strange that delicious is not working at your school. There was talk that delicious was going to go away, but I do not think that is the case. At this time, diigo is my favorite tool. I get a little carried away though and finding where I saved sites is a bit of an issue at times! Install the tool bar and using diigo is even that much easier! Tool Bar
ReplyDeleteThat's a great quote regarding the development of informal communities. I think most of the time we're not aware of our investigation of, joining, or breaking away from certain groups. I know that at times we can make an effort to open ourselves up to new opportunites, but I think, naturaly, we are propelled forward beyond our perceptions of our involvement in the communities we are involved in, and we ebb and flow into and out of groups with maybe some peripheral awareness of our doings. With Facebook I feel the same as you, I'm not really a participatant as much as an observer. Not being the type to spout off about things even when I'm with an actual "live" social group, online I tend to maintain that oberserver personality. It takes all types, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteWith all communities I think it comes down to having a purpose. The groups you choose to participate in and the the level of participation all depend on what your purpose or need is. You may only be an observer on FB until you find an old friend living halfway across the country and are able to reconnect, or some family members move away and you can easily keep in touch through FB. The same is true for bookmarking, until you really have a need and purpose you won't use it that much.
ReplyDeleteSocial web sites are now an easier way for people to communicate. We can use them a variety of different ways, my wife's new site is Pinterest, which is like Diggo, but social bookmarking with imagery and not just links.
ReplyDelete