Trapped in a Ning
It pains me to say this, but I am no longer a fan of Ning for community building. It has been a year since I created my first site, a network for moms that has grown to 200 plus members, but I have no time to maintain. The network I created for faculty at my campus plugs along, but isn’t functioning the way a social network naturally should. I feel like my members are trapped! It’s no better than an LMS.
In my original VPD post, I said:
You MUST build a network for your instructors. This can be developed on any platform you wish, but should have the ability for participants to create profiles, contribute to conversation and share media files. I use Ning because of the ease of use, flexibility, and stability. You could also use a blog or wiki.
I’m rescinding that statement and will probably rewrite my concept of VPD, now that I have more experience working with it. I do still think it is important to have an online presence, but I’m still not clear on how that should be accomplished. I started my mom site 6 years ago on a simple, threaded discussion board, and it hummed for five years. In the year since I moved it to Ning, I have more members and less participation! Here are the reasons I’m feeling trapped in a Ning:
- Much of the content is just lifted from other sites and embedded within the Ning network. I don’t like that kind of redundancy. It seems wasteful. I don’t see the need to have a space to add videos, photos, podcasts and more when they can easily be tagged in their native environments and aggregated with del.icio.us or a reader.
- My bloggers are trapped! I’ve discovered amazing potential in my bloggers, but they are trapped in the Ning! They should have their own sites where others have better access to their insightful reflections. I realize Ning has RSS, which is one of the reasons I originally selected it, but if no one goes to the site to discover the bloggers, it isn’t useful.
- It’s a lot of work to keep the network going. If you want it to remain social, you have to keep at it. That’s not natural. It feels more like being a third wheel on a first date. Awkward!
I’ve never been a fan of the term, “Web 2.0,” but my dislike revolves around the fact that many of the new tools are simply pretty packages on things we’ve had for more than a decade. I’m now at a point where I would like to strip back the packaging and get down to fundamental human communication and connection. What types of interaction have the most meaningful impact on strengthening connections? Does having a shared, designated online social space affect relationships, or is it just one more place to check in and see what’s new?
I have found that my most rewarding online connections are with people I know where to find when I need them. The tool doesn’t even matter. I’ve learned their habits and can locate them in a space where they are most comfortable interacting. There are people I’m connected with through gmail chat, skype, twitter, blogs, email and other networks, but I’ve learned which arena works best for communicating with each of them. For my Twitter contacts, I can quickly check their status on Twitter, and if they’re around, I’ll contact them through the method that works best. My colleagues all have preferred contact methods. I have some instructors who only use the phone, others email. I’ve got one who catches me on Skype, another on gmail chat or Twitter. I’ve got contacts at other local campuses who email, send through listserv, chat, Second Life or Twitter.
People are distributed everywhere, yet all accessible from anywhere I have connectivity. We don’t need to congregate on a single platform. Everyone knows where to find me. The tool doesn’t matter. We can use whatever tools we like, as long as we take the time to learn more about the people in our network and how best to communicate with them. When trying to think of a way to visually represent what is working for me, I was reminded of the old Cat’s Cradle game we used to play with yarn. I found this site with beautiful images that may help make my point.
In my mind, I see the fingers as people with whom I connect. The string, would be the tools I use to connect with them. Notice that the string is loosely wrapped and can be shifted to create as complex a structure as you like. You could use string, thread, twine or silk ribbon. It doesn’t matter. The connections are visible, personal and flexible. You can have multiple connections to each individual, or keep it simple with a single connecting point. Do what what works for the two of you. Don’t force a tool to fit the relationship. We spend a lot of time talking about networks of people, but when it comes down to it, we are talking about one-on-one relationships. Ning doesn’t seem to work for me to strengthen these ties.
Last week I started paring down my Ning memberships. Today, I stopped paying to have the ads removed from my site. (More coffee money for me?) I’m not going to dismantle anything I’ve created, but I do think I am going to start encouraging my content producers to find their own space and be free! When someone contacts me with something exciting they’ve done, I am no longer going to tell them to put it on the Ning site. I will still promote sharing and encourage collaboration, but not limit it to a single space.
After realizing all this, I now have a strong desire to run a workshop! This is honestly the first time I’ve wanted to do this, but I would like to share the following things with my instructors and anyone else who would be interested:
- How to create and develop a professional online presence
- How to build and develop global connections with individuals
- How to easily collect relevant content in a personal online space
- How to efficiently share digital resources with personal contacts
My next steps are to perform some revisions to VPD and to spend more time getting to know the individuals with whom I collaborate.
Note: When I discovered the Cat’s Cradle photos, I contacted the site owner, Libby Koponen, the author of Blow Out the Moon, to ask permission to use her images. When I told her my readers were educators, she wanted me to pass on the information that she loves to visit schools. The book won 2 award (Mass.Honor Book and on NYPL list of Best Titles for reading and sharing), was highly praised by EDUCATION OASIS, got a star from Booklist and a glowing review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Jen, this is really great. I’m part of a couple of Nings but never really visit them. If it wasn’t for an email alert that someone has replied to one of the few posts I’ve written, I don’t have the time to go blindly searching for what might be there. I’m too busy and my time is too valuable. Like you mentioned, there are people I collaborate with more and in most cases, I can find them via Twitter, Skype, a blog, or email. I like the idea of VPD - please keep sharing what you discover!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
[...] dense and full of valuable insight into the world of online communities. She recently wrote a post about her dissipating love of Nings. Seeing that Ning has become one of our most used tools, I was [...]
June 11th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Great post! I too was very excited by the idea of a Ning, but soon found it just another place where I was cutting and pasting information from other sites.
As a member of a few Nings, I find that I never participate, but as the administrator and manager of my Intrepid Classroom Ning, I find the space a nice hub for our online activity. The kids seem to like the Facebook like appeal of sharing media etc. I also find it useful for newcomers to online communities who do not have blogs or use other tools like Twitter. I see it a a sort of meeting place from where I can direct students where to go.
Our community at Intrepid Classroom if trying to use as many tools as we can, to see which are the best and rise to the top. I have shared your post with them and hope that some will comment here.
In closing I love the idea of being able to “find” people on the web and connect with them in a variety of ways. I too have had times when I read a blog post, comment on Twitter, and end up in a Skype chat with the person. This sort of fluid communication is the end, but I think the Ning is a good starter tool.
The other day I asked that you lend your voice to our community, and you automatically assumed I meant as a member of the Ning, but that was not my intention. So let’s see now how we continue to build this relationship using any and all tools at our disposal.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:55 am
I am a member of one Ning, the Intrepid Classroom and it’s one of a few tools we use. I think perhaps we’re not trapped there because we didn’t start there. Most of the members already have their own blogs on other sites, so some of the features of the Ning are not used to their fullest, and that’s ok. Not all features have to be used. However, it’s a great platform for discussions on the forums. We really only use two features: the forums, and videos.
And perhaps Nings are only useful when there aren’t too many people. Two hundred is quite a bunch. We have around thirty. And besides, not every tool is made for every person and purpose
June 12th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Here’s the ning: intrepidclassroom.ning.com and the blog: intrepidclassroom.edublogs.org
June 12th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Chad, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ve often felt guilty for not visiting the Ning sites more frequently. I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t always find time to participate!
Jabiz, thanks for visiting, commenting and referring your students! My response to your Tweet didn’t really mean I didn’t want to participate in your project. I just thought it was interesting timing when you posted it! I’m glad to see Ning is working for your students. They obviously are thriving.
Hannah, it’s great to hear your perspective and that you are using Ning as a springboard for publishing!
June 12th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I had a wry smile on my face as I imagined you contemplating this dilemma. It seems I go through these internal struggles all the time!
Great post! I also find I am contantly evolving how I use the many collaborative tools out there. What works at one point in time with the technology at hand is eventually superceded with new tools and applications. Most of what we see with social networking is repackaging and framing what has been around for 10 or more years to make collaboration more accessible. Again this is contantly evolving. As an instructor I’m forever trying to find more efficient ways to connect with my students and colleagues at different levels. However, I learned long ago that the old adage “you can lead a horse to water….” aptly applies in the digital world as well.
I’m hoping that as social networking standards and interoperability increase, we will be able to collaborate using our preferred mediums with increased ease. At the moment Facebook has been a great way for me to open up doors and maintain relationships for my students. I use it to provide them with updates of my online presence and hope to lead by example.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I wonder if it would work to set up a “community” aggregator with only feeds from member blogs. Then, share it with the community. That way, everyone in the community has a unique blog (not constrained by Ning), but I only have to put one “community” feed into my personal reader…
Of course, you wouldn’t have the discussion board functionality, but I don’t see too many vibrant discussion boards anyway…unless there is a carot (or stick) for posting.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I’ve been thinking (and playing) a lot more about this. I do use ning (www.teachingscience20.com) for my classes, but feel the same about it being constricted.
The value of Ning is that it keeps all of the blogs “together” and also can notify you when new things are posted. This function could easiy be replicated with an aggregator.
Right now, I’m thinking that my next community will use a wiki with embedded RSS Feeds either -
1) from Yahoo Pipes that combines all of the community blogs into one feed.
2) a page with individual fees from each community member.
Obstacles — With Yahoo Pipes, I think I would need to add each feed manually. With (2) the page will get cluttered really fast…
Any thoughts?
June 13th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Andy Duckworth (@aduckworth) on Twitter is getting ready to do a screencast on pipes, but I’ve never used it. If you look at the “I Subscribe To” list on the right of my blog, that’s just pulled together using tags in Google Reader. I just tagged all those blogs and used their embed widget to plug it in here. It also creates a page.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:26 am
Thank you for your thoughts. Since I am currently searching for tools for a few networks I am building, it’s quite useful. My (noob) impression is that Ning is a good tool for huge networks - like Classroom 2.0 - with slight activity by hordes of participants, and maybe more activity by a few movers and shakers. I would not use Ning for connecting a tight group of active people.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:39 am
It’s been so good to read this post and then all these comments - thank you so much Jen for starting this discussion! I am also constantly looking for and testing new tools for international online projects (being an EFL teacher). I’m afraid my first experience with Ning last year wasn’t too promising, but as always, these things take time. So great to read all the different viewpoints on this, helps me to pinpoint what purpose a Ning or any other similar network might best serve for me.
Personally, I am a member of a few Nings, but like many of you, very rarely visit or participate… Everybody’s got their priorities. It only gets frustrating at times if you are the facilitator of a Ning with dwindling participation.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:20 am
[...] I’ve been mulling over for some days now what I read @Injenuity. Jennifer Jones wrote a compelling post about “Being Trapped in a Ning“ [...]
June 16th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Jennifer and Chad: I’m so glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t visit nings regularly. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time to go through my google reader, twitter, wikis, and nings.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Awesome, thank you. Ning is good, just not for everything. A lot of people around my neck of the tech woods are what I would call “Ning-happy”, they see it as a panacea.
The most common reason given is “it has everything one could want”. Yes, I think, but that is just the tools, not the interactions among people.
Ning obviously works for some situations, some groups of people, but there are so many situations where it doesn’t work.
Thanks again for your clear articulation.
Cheers, Jeff
July 11th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
[...] @ikitajima “Trapped in a Ning” (tags: tweetmarks) [...]
August 27th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
[...] seems to be the question buzzing around the Blogosphere recently. There have been a lot of valid arguments about it being too restricting and hence less useful. I agree that you can’t simply expect it [...]