Comments on: Has Social Networking become the New Society

By: More great tips for Educators starting with Twitter | uLearning Blog

More great tips for Educators starting with Twitter | uLearning Blog — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:36:56 +0000

[...] http://betch.edublogs.org/2008/06/30/going-live-vs-doing-life/ http://betch.edublogs.org/2008/07/14/has-social-networking-become-the-new-society/ addthis_url = [...]

By: KerryJ

KerryJ — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:18:51 +0000

When Jimmy Wales came out to speak for education.au last year, he was Twittering away up on the podium as people were speaking – including when a respected aboriginal elder was conducting the welcome to land. Jimmy was probably tweeting – wow, this is so great — but as most of the audience weren’t Twitterati, we got some interesting comments about Jimmy being disinterested or even arrogant (which he seems NOT to be when you talk to him).

Ari is approaching social networks as a tool for promotion. I don’t think that is an authentic way to build relationships and could backfire if people find out the only reason you belong is to build your own reputation — that is a form a spam in my humble opinion.

I block people on Twitter who have thousands of people they “follow” and I don’t follow everyone who follows me — I pick people who interest me and balance the mundane (just had a sandwich) with the sublime (I’ve just solved a big problem/had a big thought). I politely decline most invitations to try new social networking tools and groups that do the same thing as the ones I use because I want to be THERE for the communities I choose to support. I’m dropping a group I moderate because I don’t give it the time it deserves.

At the CEGSA conference on Thursday, I was disappointed at first because I couldn’t get the WiFi to work on my N95. I considered hauling out the big laptop my IT guys insisted I’d want (I wanted a little one guys) — but decided not to. The result was that I participated AT the conference instead – chatting with Lauren and you, helping out colleagues, having discussions. Sure, I got in a few tweets and photos — but I think it was more balanced.

I used Liveblogger at a couple of education.au events to share the experience with those unable to attend — but that was my specific role at the events. That freed my colleagues and the conference organisers up to network on site, focus on presentations and logistics and be in the moment. I think that sort of role should be considered for more conferences — let people know they are welcome to tweet, live blog, etc. but also let them know there is a specific person covering it all off who will share the video/photos/audio/live blogging later so they aren’t tied to their lappies and phones all day.

By: Kickstarting A PLN | Teaching Generation Z

Kickstarting A PLN | Teaching Generation Z — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:47:55 +0000

[...] Chris Betcher (but to a potentially much smaller audience), I am planning one of my presentations for our annual [...]

By: Leo Havemann

Leo Havemann — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:59:29 +0000

Thanks for this thoughtful post Chris. What you describe is so familiar – including belonging to all the SN sites you mention and the part about the ‘real life’ social network not growing. The thing is, much as I enjoy discovering a nifty new site or tool I am much more interested in how we can use technology to connect and share, than in the technology itself. But I absolutely agree that we have to remember that being in the moment comes first before we worry how to preserve, stream, or plurk it.

By: Ari Herzog

Ari Herzog — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:35:34 +0000

As long as you brand yourself consistently across each site, people will begin (if not already) to recognize you and your brand for who you are and what you represent and that will ideally lead to increased comments/trackbacks to your blog and/or offers for this or that, calling on your expertise.

Now, Chris, how is belonging to many groups a bad thing?

By: Sue Waters

Sue Waters — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 06:32:59 +0000

I've been thinking about this a lot myself lately -- from the point of view of the presenter that is. I think when doing a presentation your first responsibility should be to focus on the people within the room. Sharing the presentation with the global audience should be the role of any participants who choose they want to do this. At m-learn last year they had some sessions streamed out via Elluminate which was good because they had a moderator doing all the work and when it was question time the moderator asked the questions for the virtual attendees. There are ways that you can model your presentation that Learning is a Conversation without having to do it all totally live. For example you could write a post and ask people to share they ideas and thoughts which you then use in your presentation (this is what I have done for my presentation this week).