Ten Fold
What if we could increase the size of “The Network” ten fold. There are about 100 or so active ed techies in the network putting in more than a full day’s work of discovery every day. That’s certainly not enough people to stimulate change in educating our children or our workforce.
What if, instead of discovering new tools, for one day we discover ten more people to add to the network. Do we really need a hundred social networking tools? Would we be better off with a hundred new techie teachers? How do we achieve balance? Next time you share a link with someone in “The Network,” pass it on to someone who doesn’t know what the network is. Next time you need to test a new tool before implementation, invite some novices. Next time you get the urge to stay up all night playing with new tools, design a workshop for parents.
Let’s put expansion of the network ahead of jumping on every new tool as soon as it comes out. That link will still be there for you to follow when you are done sending those extra messages to new potential network members. You don’t have to be the first to try each tool. Be the first to get new network members to try tools.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Good point. I completely agree about not needing to be first out of the gate with every new tool. As for the overall theme of the post, I wanted to resist, to say something like “but folks have to WANT to join.” Then I realized that’s our job. To make them WANT to join a network (not The Network, as much as I like the term). Or maybe it’s not to convince them to join, as everyone’s got some sort of offline network, but to bridge their network to your/ours. That’s the real need, isn’t it?
October 10th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Great point! A bridge is what is needed. There are probably dozens of parallel networks and we are inches away from linking. I find it takes an extraordinary amount of effort to convert my associates to Twitter. I finally realized one of the main problems is that Twitter works best when you have a lot of followers. It takes time to gain a following. We need a fast track system for new members.
October 10th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Yeah - except a fast track isn’t necessarily a sustainable one. It takes time to learn how to work the information via Twitter. Lots of time. I don’t think it can be rushed, other than through the “please welcome” types of outreach that folks are already doing. This is worth talking about further. Up for a podcast?
October 11th, 2007 at 6:50 am
You’re right about the amount of time. Maybe it is necessary. Then the problem must be that we need to show the value you gain from putting in that time. I think the welcomes are a big help, but only work if the person doing the introduction has a big following. You think this is worthy of a podcast? I wonder if others are having this conversation as well. Could be worth exploring.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
I do think it’s worthy - it’s an important conversation.