Orientation complete? What is an online com...
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Leigh Blackall
Aug 4, 2008, 7:14:33 PM8/4/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hello all.. the course blog has been updated. Now I am moving onto creating that definative list of our blogs (thanks to all who have given a hand with that btw).
Please make sure you have the course blog in your RSS News readers :)
Hope to see many of you in the meeting room 4 hours from now :)
--
--
Leigh Blackall
+64(0)21736539
skype - leigh_blackall
SL - Leroy Goalpost
http://learnonline.wordpress.com
Please make sure you have the course blog in your RSS News readers :)
Hope to see many of you in the meeting room 4 hours from now :)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Leigh Blackall <leighb...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Subject: [Facilitating Online Communities] Orientation complete? What is an online com...
To: leighb...@gmail.com
It has been quite a week! The email forum has been going berserk with enthusiasm, confusion, chaos and insights. Reminds me of that moment you first walk into a fun park... trying to do everything at once :) It was good to see all this, and I think we managed to keep a balance in the orientation week's discussions.
The email forum is not a requirement for the course. It is a space for those of us who enjoy discussing the weekly topics and socially constructing our learning. The minimum requirements for the course are listed on the course wiki. In week 1 - Orientation, everyone should have by now set up their own blog, set up an RSS news reader, and introduced themselves to the course wiki with a link to their blogs.
It is now my job to create a list of everyone doing the course with their contact details and blog addresses. This should make it easier for the rest of us to subscribe to each other's blogs. We don't have to subscribe to everyone's blogs - just the one's that interest us. It is my expectation that little networks will naturally form based on what we can make out about each other through our blogs. Some of us will gravitate towards the more technical aspects of what make online communities work, others towards the more human aspects, and so on. So long as we cross reference each other from time to time such as by making hyperlinks to each other's blog posts from our own posts. Through tis linking a good over view of our network forming will emerge - just in time for week 7 - Blogging networks.
As was discussed in week 1 by some of the participants, a tag word for the course is being used as a way to collect and centralise all our dispersed work in this course. FOC08 is a way to label each of our posts so that they can be collected in one place. It is a nice way to quickly come together if any of us are already established online elsewhere and don't want to have to set up a whole new account and space. The search engine technorati is already starting to pick up references to FOC08, and a few of the participants have manually started collecting people's work into the one place for quick reference. To get your blog posts included in those places, just add the FOC08 tag word in the field below where you type up your blog post and it will appear. Its easy networking! I know.. it sounds complicated to those who are not familiar with it.. but it IS a very handy thing for people who are already set up online.. it saves a lot of time.
So, we now begin week 2 and 3 focusing on the question - What is an online community? We are meeting at 3am UTC (That's 3pm NZ time, and other times here). Just click the link to the 24/7 meeting room before that time and you won't need a password to join. A recording will be made available if you can't make it.
Things to do for the next 2 weeks are outlined on the wiki. Please take your time with it, you have 2 whole weeks (10-12 hours) on the question of what is an online communty? I think it is one worth reading up on, discussing in the email forum and posting a response to your blog. Already there has been a promising start to a discussion in the email forum on the subtle differences between blogs and forums for communication. Don't forget to cross reference to other people's posts, and of course to include other reference's in your post that show's you are researching and learning :)
Good luck, and watch this space for updates.. this space being the course blog - add it to your shiny new RSS News Reader ;)
--
Posted By Leigh Blackall to Facilitating Online Communities at 8/05/2008 09:14:00 AM
From: Leigh Blackall <leighb...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Subject: [Facilitating Online Communities] Orientation complete? What is an online com...
To: leighb...@gmail.com
It has been quite a week! The email forum has been going berserk with enthusiasm, confusion, chaos and insights. Reminds me of that moment you first walk into a fun park... trying to do everything at once :) It was good to see all this, and I think we managed to keep a balance in the orientation week's discussions.The email forum is not a requirement for the course. It is a space for those of us who enjoy discussing the weekly topics and socially constructing our learning. The minimum requirements for the course are listed on the course wiki. In week 1 - Orientation, everyone should have by now set up their own blog, set up an RSS news reader, and introduced themselves to the course wiki with a link to their blogs.
It is now my job to create a list of everyone doing the course with their contact details and blog addresses. This should make it easier for the rest of us to subscribe to each other's blogs. We don't have to subscribe to everyone's blogs - just the one's that interest us. It is my expectation that little networks will naturally form based on what we can make out about each other through our blogs. Some of us will gravitate towards the more technical aspects of what make online communities work, others towards the more human aspects, and so on. So long as we cross reference each other from time to time such as by making hyperlinks to each other's blog posts from our own posts. Through tis linking a good over view of our network forming will emerge - just in time for week 7 - Blogging networks.
As was discussed in week 1 by some of the participants, a tag word for the course is being used as a way to collect and centralise all our dispersed work in this course. FOC08 is a way to label each of our posts so that they can be collected in one place. It is a nice way to quickly come together if any of us are already established online elsewhere and don't want to have to set up a whole new account and space. The search engine technorati is already starting to pick up references to FOC08, and a few of the participants have manually started collecting people's work into the one place for quick reference. To get your blog posts included in those places, just add the FOC08 tag word in the field below where you type up your blog post and it will appear. Its easy networking! I know.. it sounds complicated to those who are not familiar with it.. but it IS a very handy thing for people who are already set up online.. it saves a lot of time.
So, we now begin week 2 and 3 focusing on the question - What is an online community? We are meeting at 3am UTC (That's 3pm NZ time, and other times here). Just click the link to the 24/7 meeting room before that time and you won't need a password to join. A recording will be made available if you can't make it.
Things to do for the next 2 weeks are outlined on the wiki. Please take your time with it, you have 2 whole weeks (10-12 hours) on the question of what is an online communty? I think it is one worth reading up on, discussing in the email forum and posting a response to your blog. Already there has been a promising start to a discussion in the email forum on the subtle differences between blogs and forums for communication. Don't forget to cross reference to other people's posts, and of course to include other reference's in your post that show's you are researching and learning :)
Good luck, and watch this space for updates.. this space being the course blog - add it to your shiny new RSS News Reader ;)
--
Posted By Leigh Blackall to Facilitating Online Communities at 8/05/2008 09:14:00 AM
--
--
Leigh Blackall
+64(0)21736539
skype - leigh_blackall
SL - Leroy Goalpost
http://learnonline.wordpress.com
Jeffrey Keefer
Aug 4, 2008, 8:06:37 PM8/4/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Leigh-
I cannot add the RSS feed for the wiki—my reader says the link is broken. Do you know if it is working?
BTW, can you give the blog address one more time here for those who may need it?
Thank you.
-----
Jeffrey Keefer
jef...@silenceandvoice.com
Blog: http://silenceandvoice.com
Website: http://www.jeffreykeefer.com
Wayne Anderson
Aug 4, 2008, 8:56:59 PM8/4/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Mary Loftus
Aug 4, 2008, 9:19:35 PM8/4/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hi Leigh & All
I am trying to stay up for the 4am meeting - the mind is willing…. but the body is weak! It was a holiday weekend here in Ireland and the kids dragged us all around a nearby agricultural show today. <yawn...>
Thank you everyone for all your hard work last week. I learned a lot and I have ferreted away lots of great resources which I hope to process when I have more time. I was pretty tied up last week - so I'm afraid I was a bit of a 'Miss Minimum Requirements'. This week will be pretty busy too - but I hope to be able to contribute more.
One of the recurring themes for me last week was around the whole process of kicking off new events. I put a short blogpost together on some of my experiences and I would love to hear how others tackle that all-important first week.
'Hope to see you later!
Mary
Leigh Blackall
Aug 4, 2008, 9:44:31 PM8/4/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hi everyone. Nice post Mary :)
Jeffery.. I don't think there was an RSS feed for the wiki before - but I added one for you: http://wikieducator.org/index.php?title=Facilitating_online_communities&action=feed&feed=rss
Jeffery.. I don't think there was an RSS feed for the wiki before - but I added one for you: http://wikieducator.org/index.php?title=Facilitating_online_communities&action=feed&feed=rss
Jeffrey Keefer
Aug 4, 2008, 9:59:47 PM8/4/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Leigh, I am still getting an error with it. FeedDemon verifies feeds before it adds them, and it tells me something is wrong with it.
Is anybody else having an issue with it?
Thank you.
-----
Jeffrey Keefer
jef...@silenceandvoice.com
Blog: http://silenceandvoice.com
Website: http://www.jeffreykeefer.com
From: facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com [mailto:facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Leigh Blackall
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 9:45 PM
To: facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Minhaaj ur Rehman
Aug 4, 2008, 10:09:27 PM8/4/08
to Facilitating Online Communities
Whats the meeting room url again ?
On Aug 5, 7:59 am, "Jeffrey Keefer" <jeff...@silenceandvoice.com>
wrote:
>
> Blog:http://silenceandvoice.com<http://silenceandvoice.com/>
>
> Website:http://www.jeffreykeefer.com<http://www.jeffreykeefer.com/>
> ion=feed&feed=rss> &action=feed&feed=rss
> I am trying to stay up for the 4am meeting - the mind is willing.. but the
On Aug 5, 7:59 am, "Jeffrey Keefer" <jeff...@silenceandvoice.com>
wrote:
> Leigh, I am still getting an error with it. FeedDemon verifies feeds before
> it adds them, and it tells me something is wrong with it.
>
> Is anybody else having an issue with it?
>
> Thank you.
>
> -----
> Jeffrey Keefer
> jeff...@silenceandvoice.com
> it adds them, and it tells me something is wrong with it.
>
> Is anybody else having an issue with it?
>
> Thank you.
>
> -----
> Jeffrey Keefer
>
> Blog:http://silenceandvoice.com<http://silenceandvoice.com/>
>
> Website:http://www.jeffreykeefer.com<http://www.jeffreykeefer.com/>
>
> From: facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
> [mailto:facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Leigh
> Blackall
> Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 9:45 PM
> To: facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: ::{{FOC}}:: Re: Orientation complete? What is an online com...
>
> Hi everyone. Nice post Mary :)
>
> Jeffery.. I don't think there was an RSS feed for the wiki before - but I
> added one for you:http://wikieducator.org/index.php?title=Facilitating_online_communities
> <http://wikieducator.org/index.php?title=Facilitating_online_communiti...
> From: facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
> [mailto:facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Leigh
> Blackall
> Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 9:45 PM
> To: facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: ::{{FOC}}:: Re: Orientation complete? What is an online com...
>
> Hi everyone. Nice post Mary :)
>
> Jeffery.. I don't think there was an RSS feed for the wiki before - but I
> added one for you:http://wikieducator.org/index.php?title=Facilitating_online_communities
> ion=feed&feed=rss> &action=feed&feed=rss
> I am trying to stay up for the 4am meeting - the mind is willing.. but the
> body is weak! It was a holiday weekend here in Ireland and the kids dragged
> us all around a nearby agricultural show today. <yawn...>
>
> Thank you everyone for all your hard work last week. I learned a lot and I
> have ferreted away lots of great resources which I hope to process when I
> have more time. I was pretty tied up last week - so I'm afraid I was a bit
> of a 'Miss Minimum Requirements'. This week will be pretty busy too - but I
> hope to be able to contribute more.
>
> One of the recurring themes for me last week was around the whole process of
> kicking off new events. I put a short blogpost
> <http://livnlern.blogspot.com/> together on some of my experiences and I
> us all around a nearby agricultural show today. <yawn...>
>
> Thank you everyone for all your hard work last week. I learned a lot and I
> have ferreted away lots of great resources which I hope to process when I
> have more time. I was pretty tied up last week - so I'm afraid I was a bit
> of a 'Miss Minimum Requirements'. This week will be pretty busy too - but I
> hope to be able to contribute more.
>
> One of the recurring themes for me last week was around the whole process of
> kicking off new events. I put a short blogpost
> would love to hear how others tackle that all-important first week.
>
> 'Hope to see you later!
>
> Mary
>
>
> 'Hope to see you later!
>
> Mary
>
Leigh Blackall
Aug 4, 2008, 10:40:41 PM8/4/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Peter Bryant
Aug 5, 2008, 2:22:03 AM8/5/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hello Leigh
I'm afraid I stumbled right at the start and before
I knew it the horse had bolted!
As a newbie it's all a bit overwhelming, but I'm
learning a lot just watching how things are unfolding.
Many thanks
Peter
Leigh Blackall
Aug 5, 2008, 2:55:05 AM8/5/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hi Peter,
That's *good* to hear. Good in a sense that we need to know if people are feeling swamped and if there is anything we can do to help. If you refer to the wiki, in week 2 there is a link to the recording of the meeting we had today. In that recording is a demo of how to use Bloglines to subscribe to RSS feeds (week 1) and a bit of a start to some of the things we are now considering in week 2-3.
Remember, the email forum (which I suspect you might be referring to when you say the horse has bolted) is over and above the requirements of the course that are listed in the wiki.
Let us know if there is anything I/we can help you with - or if you have a question about how the course is set up and unfolding for you..
Regards
Leigh
That's *good* to hear. Good in a sense that we need to know if people are feeling swamped and if there is anything we can do to help. If you refer to the wiki, in week 2 there is a link to the recording of the meeting we had today. In that recording is a demo of how to use Bloglines to subscribe to RSS feeds (week 1) and a bit of a start to some of the things we are now considering in week 2-3.
Remember, the email forum (which I suspect you might be referring to when you say the horse has bolted) is over and above the requirements of the course that are listed in the wiki.
Let us know if there is anything I/we can help you with - or if you have a question about how the course is set up and unfolding for you..
Regards
Leigh
cristina costa
Aug 5, 2008, 3:38:36 AM8/5/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hi Jeffrey,
which Reader are you uisng?
I am using google RSS reader (tutorial hre: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65iL0Q97RCg ) and this Link:
http://wikieducator.org/index.php?title=Facilitating_online_communities&action=feed&feed=atom has worked for me.
Please let us know how you get on.
The course blog can be accessed here: http://facilitatingonlinecommunities.blogspot.com/
Cris
On Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 1:06 AM, Jeffrey Keefer <jef...@silenceandvoice.com> wrote:
Leigh-
I cannot add the RSS feed for the wiki—my reader says the link is broken. Do you know if it is working?
BTW, can you give the blog address one more time here for those who may need it?
Thank you.
-----
Jeffrey Keefer
jef...@silenceandvoice.com
Blog: http://silenceandvoice.com
Website: http://www.jeffreykeefer.com
--
Cristina Costa
Site: http://www.knowmansland.com/
Skype: navysternchen
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cristinacost
Cristina Costa
Site: http://www.knowmansland.com/
Skype: navysternchen
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cristinacost
olubodun olufemi
Aug 5, 2008, 5:58:00 AM8/5/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hi
I have limited knowledge of RSS.
Could you say some more thing about it. I just know is used to send quick information to subscriber. Waht is the use and importance here.
Then you said google RSS. Any more information?
Olufemi
Olubodun Olufemi J. [ CDT; RDT (Nig) M.Ed; Pg Dip. Ed; Pg Dip. E-Teaching & E-course Dev. (UNU/GVU)]
University of Lagos, College of Medicine, School of Dental Sciences,
P.M.B. 12003, Lagos Nigeria. Mobile:+2348066389422
Office: 23401-4802011
eFacilitator
Dodo Village
--- On Tue, 8/5/08, cristina costa <cristi...@gmail.com> wrote: |
cristina costa
Aug 5, 2008, 6:23:20 AM8/5/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Sure!
I will share the little I know...
RSS feed is actually quite important in the life of cybernauts like us - ;-) Iit is a very handy tool for blog readers.
In a very non-geek language (LOL) , RSS Feed is a fairly easy way to be notified about the update of content in someone's blog, site, wiki, etc by subscribing to those websites via a specific web address
How is this possible? There are these web tools called RSS feed aggregators (also known as RSS feed readers) you can sign up to for free. After that you just add the web addresses (URLs) of the blogs, sites, etc you want to follow and all the newly published information will be sent to your reader tool. You no longer have to constantly check every single blog to see if it has been updated.The updates will come to you as its contents will directly be fed into your rss reader (you just have to check your RSS reader). In other words, you only have to check one single place where all the blogs you read come together. Can it get any better than this?! :-)
There are many rss readers available on the web. I used protopages in the past, and now I turned into igoogle and combined it with google reader, so that every time I log in to my computer it just "jumps into my face", since I have set igoogle as my home page! ...
But that is just my strategy to keep up to date with the blogsphere. Here is old my protopage, in case you want to have a look at it.
If you are a visual learner, you might consider netvibes, because it will allow you to organize the blogs you read in a more visual way. See Joao's example: http://www.netvibes.com/joaoalves#FOC08 He created a Tab where he added all the FOC08 participants' blogs. Now imagine Joao goes back to his school after the summer break and wants to intruduce his students to blogging, he can create another tab in his netvibes to aggregate his students' blogs, and also share it with the students. So things get pretty organized. Mash-ups like netvibes are quite handy in this sense.
Bloglines is also another good rss readers, which you can subscribe to for free.
For additional info about RSS feed Irecommend you watch RSS Feed in Plain English by Common Craft. It's a great video.
I hope I was able to help you. RSS feeds are not an easy concept to explain, but once we start using it and looking at how other people are using it gets clearer...at least it did for me.
If you have more questions, gives us a shot!
I will share the little I know...
RSS feed is actually quite important in the life of cybernauts like us - ;-) Iit is a very handy tool for blog readers.
In a very non-geek language (LOL) , RSS Feed is a fairly easy way to be notified about the update of content in someone's blog, site, wiki, etc by subscribing to those websites via a specific web address
How is this possible? There are these web tools called RSS feed aggregators (also known as RSS feed readers) you can sign up to for free. After that you just add the web addresses (URLs) of the blogs, sites, etc you want to follow and all the newly published information will be sent to your reader tool. You no longer have to constantly check every single blog to see if it has been updated.The updates will come to you as its contents will directly be fed into your rss reader (you just have to check your RSS reader). In other words, you only have to check one single place where all the blogs you read come together. Can it get any better than this?! :-)
There are many rss readers available on the web. I used protopages in the past, and now I turned into igoogle and combined it with google reader, so that every time I log in to my computer it just "jumps into my face", since I have set igoogle as my home page! ...
But that is just my strategy to keep up to date with the blogsphere. Here is old my protopage, in case you want to have a look at it.
If you are a visual learner, you might consider netvibes, because it will allow you to organize the blogs you read in a more visual way. See Joao's example: http://www.netvibes.com/joaoalves#FOC08 He created a Tab where he added all the FOC08 participants' blogs. Now imagine Joao goes back to his school after the summer break and wants to intruduce his students to blogging, he can create another tab in his netvibes to aggregate his students' blogs, and also share it with the students. So things get pretty organized. Mash-ups like netvibes are quite handy in this sense.
Bloglines is also another good rss readers, which you can subscribe to for free.
For additional info about RSS feed Irecommend you watch RSS Feed in Plain English by Common Craft. It's a great video.
I hope I was able to help you. RSS feeds are not an easy concept to explain, but once we start using it and looking at how other people are using it gets clearer...at least it did for me.
If you have more questions, gives us a shot!
On Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 10:58 AM, olubodun olufemi <ojolu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Leigh Blackall
Aug 5, 2008, 6:43:35 AM8/5/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Well done Cristina!
olubodun olufemi
Aug 5, 2008, 6:44:47 AM8/5/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hi Leigh,
I am not following the discussion to my satisfation. I am unclear on where the discussion is taking place.
Although I responded to some mails but not satisfied.
I however will like to know how you are able to cope with the overwhelming mails coming in. As an online facilitator for communities I can understand how difficult to read mails swamping on you like that.
Could you tell me how you do it especially if you have to contend with poor interet server and services here in Nigeria. |
|
Olufemi
Olubodun Olufemi J. [ CDT; RDT (Nig) M.Ed; Pg Dip. Ed; Pg Dip. E-Teaching & E-course Dev. (UNU/GVU)]
University of Lagos, College of Medicine, School of Dental Sciences,
P.M.B. 12003, Lagos Nigeria. Mobile:+2348066389422
Office: 23401-4802011
eFacilitator
Dodo Village
|
| --- On Tue, 8/5/08, Leigh Blackall <leighb...@gmail.com> wrote: |
From: Leigh Blackall <leighb...@gmail.com> |
olubodun olufemi
Aug 6, 2008, 11:03:32 AM8/6/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
I wish I could join some of the online events.
In any case I think online community could be described as 'real' community of people with definite objective. Sometimes these objectives are defined and at another they are not. I am not comfortable with describibng tthem as virtual as some do, I rather think they are real but different in the medium that connects them.
Is anyone in agreement with my definition? |
|
Olubodun Olufemi J. [ CDT; RDT (Nig) M.Ed; Pg Dip. Ed; Pg Dip. E-Teaching & E-course Dev. (UNU/GVU)]
University of Lagos, College of Medicine, School of Dental Sciences,
P.M.B. 12003, Lagos Nigeria. Mobile:+2348066389422
Office: 23401-4802011
eFacilitator
Dodo Village
|
| --- On Mon, 8/4/08, Leigh Blackall <leighb...@gmail.com> wrote: |
Mike Bogle
Aug 6, 2008, 7:20:40 PM8/6/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hi Olubodun,
Your statement about not referring to online communities as being "virtual", but rather different in medium got me to thinking and I've since written a blog post about it. I agree and think it's a really important distinction to make. By calling the community 'virtual' rather than the area in which they congregate or interact I think you imply a whole lot about the mission/objectives/values that the community is founded upon. I also think it hits upon some of the arbitrary or perhaps unnecessary distinctions between online learning and learning, where the medium is inadvertently placed ahead of the mission - the mission being the empowering of learners and facilitation of their learning processes.
I think this distinction creates divisions in education which can (and arguably do) threaten the cohesion of the learning process and threaten to distract from the core objectives of the community.
Anyway my post is located here if anyone is interested: http://techticker.net/2008/08/06/differentiating-medium-from-mission/
Cheers,
Mike Bogle
Email: michael...@gmail.com
Blog: http://techticker.net
Your statement about not referring to online communities as being "virtual", but rather different in medium got me to thinking and I've since written a blog post about it. I agree and think it's a really important distinction to make. By calling the community 'virtual' rather than the area in which they congregate or interact I think you imply a whole lot about the mission/objectives/values that the community is founded upon. I also think it hits upon some of the arbitrary or perhaps unnecessary distinctions between online learning and learning, where the medium is inadvertently placed ahead of the mission - the mission being the empowering of learners and facilitation of their learning processes.
I think this distinction creates divisions in education which can (and arguably do) threaten the cohesion of the learning process and threaten to distract from the core objectives of the community.
Anyway my post is located here if anyone is interested: http://techticker.net/2008/08/06/differentiating-medium-from-mission/
Cheers,
Mike Bogle
Email: michael...@gmail.com
Blog: http://techticker.net
Leigh Blackall
Aug 6, 2008, 7:57:07 PM8/6/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hello Olubodum,
I think Mike's very valid point extends your point quite nicely and I hope Olubodum will join Mike over on his blog to take the the discussion further.. which leads me to answering Olubodum's specific questions on how to manage all this "discussion".
The first thing I must reiterate is that you should not feel as though you must follow a single discussion. This email forum is too big and too diverse to be manageable for most people Olubodum - so you must make connections with individuals in the course and build your own discussion space through blogs, and then through the other communication mediums we will look at and trial together in the coming weeks.
But if you feel as though you do want to keep trying to follow the email forum - here's a few tips to help you manage:
Olubodum, you may have noticed that the emails are coming in with a subject line prefix ::{{FOC}}::
Your email client can be set up to recognise that prefix and automatically send the email to a folder other than your inbox for you to open and read when you allocate the time. This will remove the flood of email from your inbox. While this works for many people, it is not how I do it.
Other people adjust their settings on the Google Group's website so that they don't receive email, or receive it as a summary or digest. They must visit the Google Group website to catch up with discussion. This is also not how I do it.
Other's again, subscribe to the email forum's RSS feed and follow the discussions in their RSS News Reader. This is not how I do it either :)
I follow the email discussion like any other email - straight from my inbox. As a result, I have hundreds of emails every day. Email (much to my disappointment) is my primary mode of communication and so I spend the majority of my working day with email. I am presently facilitating 3 courses like this!
As the facilitator, I need to keep up with it all and so far it seems to be taking me about 10-15 hours per week with this course. This is 4-9 hours more than I plan for in later weeks for this course, but I have allowed for extra time in the first few weeks while things settle in. I am hoping that when the blogs get going, I will be able to withdraw a little from this email forum, and be free to browse people's blog posts and leave short comments here and there directly on people's blogs. Personally, I hope we (we being online communicators) will evolve beyond email and start using more sophisticated mediums. Personally, I think that blogs offer us a chance to slow down and be more personal and deeper with our reflections, that can lead to more personal and deeper relationships with other people online - but that's my personal opinion. I find email is like fast food, and blogging is like slow food. However, the unmanaged RSS reader can tend to make the slowness of blogging fast again.. an RSS reader is a little like an email inbox at times.
So in final answer to your question Olubodum - the discussion (if there really is only one) should be decentralising away from this email forum. It was never going to be satisfactory for many people, email is work. You should not be striving to keep up with the email forum (unless you want my job :) but instead I think you should be striving to make more personal connections with a smaller group of individuals in this course (Mike Bogle has invited you to discuss your issue with him). If you browse people's blogs you should feel as though you are seeing more of that particular person. They should have a portrait and other information that makes you feel like you are in their home, or in their space at least. We don't get this from email or forums. From that feeling I would hope that you can relate to a number of people and begin feeling like you can comment on their blog and discuss things. With so many people in this course - your chances of connecting with like minded people are higher than if we had a smaller group. If the people you attempt to connect with are good communicators, they will come to your blog and comment on yours. Slowly you will build a small network of people around you and feel like you are in a discussion worth having, and that you are indeed a part of that discussion, helping to make it happen. This email forum is too big, too in personal for many of us, we need to break into smaller groups. Notably though, some people have managed to use this email forum to make real connections. Notice that it is the ones with the most experience in online communication though.
I hope this advice is helpful Olubodum. I will try and set the next meeting time in your timezone so that we may continue to talk through this. I understand your feeling of frustration, and my suggestion is to relax, be patient, let yourself miss things, let yourself follow only the things that interest you. Over time (this is only week 2 after all) you will start to become more connected and things will start to fall into place for you.
Most of all, reach out, socialise, and stay in touch with those you connect with.
I think Mike's very valid point extends your point quite nicely and I hope Olubodum will join Mike over on his blog to take the the discussion further.. which leads me to answering Olubodum's specific questions on how to manage all this "discussion".
The first thing I must reiterate is that you should not feel as though you must follow a single discussion. This email forum is too big and too diverse to be manageable for most people Olubodum - so you must make connections with individuals in the course and build your own discussion space through blogs, and then through the other communication mediums we will look at and trial together in the coming weeks.
But if you feel as though you do want to keep trying to follow the email forum - here's a few tips to help you manage:
Olubodum, you may have noticed that the emails are coming in with a subject line prefix ::{{FOC}}::
Your email client can be set up to recognise that prefix and automatically send the email to a folder other than your inbox for you to open and read when you allocate the time. This will remove the flood of email from your inbox. While this works for many people, it is not how I do it.
Other people adjust their settings on the Google Group's website so that they don't receive email, or receive it as a summary or digest. They must visit the Google Group website to catch up with discussion. This is also not how I do it.
Other's again, subscribe to the email forum's RSS feed and follow the discussions in their RSS News Reader. This is not how I do it either :)
I follow the email discussion like any other email - straight from my inbox. As a result, I have hundreds of emails every day. Email (much to my disappointment) is my primary mode of communication and so I spend the majority of my working day with email. I am presently facilitating 3 courses like this!
As the facilitator, I need to keep up with it all and so far it seems to be taking me about 10-15 hours per week with this course. This is 4-9 hours more than I plan for in later weeks for this course, but I have allowed for extra time in the first few weeks while things settle in. I am hoping that when the blogs get going, I will be able to withdraw a little from this email forum, and be free to browse people's blog posts and leave short comments here and there directly on people's blogs. Personally, I hope we (we being online communicators) will evolve beyond email and start using more sophisticated mediums. Personally, I think that blogs offer us a chance to slow down and be more personal and deeper with our reflections, that can lead to more personal and deeper relationships with other people online - but that's my personal opinion. I find email is like fast food, and blogging is like slow food. However, the unmanaged RSS reader can tend to make the slowness of blogging fast again.. an RSS reader is a little like an email inbox at times.
So in final answer to your question Olubodum - the discussion (if there really is only one) should be decentralising away from this email forum. It was never going to be satisfactory for many people, email is work. You should not be striving to keep up with the email forum (unless you want my job :) but instead I think you should be striving to make more personal connections with a smaller group of individuals in this course (Mike Bogle has invited you to discuss your issue with him). If you browse people's blogs you should feel as though you are seeing more of that particular person. They should have a portrait and other information that makes you feel like you are in their home, or in their space at least. We don't get this from email or forums. From that feeling I would hope that you can relate to a number of people and begin feeling like you can comment on their blog and discuss things. With so many people in this course - your chances of connecting with like minded people are higher than if we had a smaller group. If the people you attempt to connect with are good communicators, they will come to your blog and comment on yours. Slowly you will build a small network of people around you and feel like you are in a discussion worth having, and that you are indeed a part of that discussion, helping to make it happen. This email forum is too big, too in personal for many of us, we need to break into smaller groups. Notably though, some people have managed to use this email forum to make real connections. Notice that it is the ones with the most experience in online communication though.
I hope this advice is helpful Olubodum. I will try and set the next meeting time in your timezone so that we may continue to talk through this. I understand your feeling of frustration, and my suggestion is to relax, be patient, let yourself miss things, let yourself follow only the things that interest you. Over time (this is only week 2 after all) you will start to become more connected and things will start to fall into place for you.
Most of all, reach out, socialise, and stay in touch with those you connect with.
cristina costa
Aug 7, 2008, 4:46:28 AM8/7/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Agree.
I use to say that the only thing virtual is the means through which we communicate and establish contacts, bonds and learning relationships. And those are really real! :-)
I will try to make it some of the live sessions once I get back from Hols - right now I am too tired to get up that early in the morning - I hope to come back recharged to take part in some great sessions!
C
I use to say that the only thing virtual is the means through which we communicate and establish contacts, bonds and learning relationships. And those are really real! :-)
I will try to make it some of the live sessions once I get back from Hols - right now I am too tired to get up that early in the morning - I hope to come back recharged to take part in some great sessions!
C
cristina costa
Aug 7, 2008, 4:56:45 AM8/7/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Agree.
I use to say that the only thing virtual is the means through which we communicate and establish contacts, bonds and learning relationships. And those are really real! :-)
I will try to make it some of the live sessions once I get back from Hols - right now I am too tired to get up that early in the morning - I hope to come back recharged to take part in some great sessions!
C
I use to say that the only thing virtual is the means through which we communicate and establish contacts, bonds and learning relationships. And those are really real! :-)
I will try to make it some of the live sessions once I get back from Hols - right now I am too tired to get up that early in the morning - I hope to come back recharged to take part in some great sessions!
C
On Wed, Aug 6, 2008 at 4:03 PM, olubodun olufemi <ojolu...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Peter Bryant
Aug 7, 2008, 8:04:43 AM8/7/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Thanks, that's helpful Leigh. I had got fixtaed on
the email conversation (full of terminology that's quite foreign to me). I'll
concentrate on the wiki from here on in.
Cheers
Derek Chirnside
Aug 7, 2008, 4:49:52 PM8/7/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Well, sort of done my homework. It's like a diamond, got to rotate the idea to see the different facets. My reflections are a little unsystematic and personal. I think I'd give a different answer if I was asked in a month.
Found it harder than I thought, took me down a few little avenues I have not finished thinking about yet. Needed three goes, with a few false starts.
Got seriously distracted with the blogs. Tons of interesting side comments (Google reader, Diigo, multitasking, people I've not spoken to for a while, flow, book titles, tips on getting organised, links to Jewish humour . . .)
Loved the Netvibes page (have visited two of the three columns of blogs, got one to go).Thanks Joao!! Anyone struggling with RSS, feeds: this is a good place to start.
Had coffee, off to my day job now.
Have a good day/evening/afternoon everybody, wherever your time zone finds you. And thanks Leigh.
-Derek
Found it harder than I thought, took me down a few little avenues I have not finished thinking about yet. Needed three goes, with a few false starts.
Got seriously distracted with the blogs. Tons of interesting side comments (Google reader, Diigo, multitasking, people I've not spoken to for a while, flow, book titles, tips on getting organised, links to Jewish humour . . .)
Loved the Netvibes page (have visited two of the three columns of blogs, got one to go).Thanks Joao!! Anyone struggling with RSS, feeds: this is a good place to start.
Had coffee, off to my day job now.
Have a good day/evening/afternoon everybody, wherever your time zone finds you. And thanks Leigh.
-Derek
2008/8/8 Peter Bryant <bry...@ozonline.com.au>
Amy Lenzo
Aug 8, 2008, 2:47:47 AM8/8/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Hi all,
(In an example of typical gender-specific commentary :-) I just wanted to say how brilliant the reading list is this week, and how much fun I’ve been having blogging and commenting on other people’s posts, as well as participating (mostly as a reader!) here on the list-serve.
I have a question about the live Elluminate sessions – are there going to be any more of them? I haven’t seen a schedule, and being on the other side of the world here in California, I’m finding it helps to know about them well in advance.
I have a suggestion, too. There are so many interesting thoughts expressed here on the list, and I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to follow up on them by commenting on the posters’ blogs. It would save effort & make it easier if folks included a link to their blog in their signatures.
Amy
...o0o...
Amy Lenzo
a...@beautydialogues.com
FOC08 Blog: http://allislight.typepad.com/facilitating_online_commu/
(In an example of typical gender-specific commentary :-) I just wanted to say how brilliant the reading list is this week, and how much fun I’ve been having blogging and commenting on other people’s posts, as well as participating (mostly as a reader!) here on the list-serve.
I have a question about the live Elluminate sessions – are there going to be any more of them? I haven’t seen a schedule, and being on the other side of the world here in California, I’m finding it helps to know about them well in advance.
I have a suggestion, too. There are so many interesting thoughts expressed here on the list, and I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to follow up on them by commenting on the posters’ blogs. It would save effort & make it easier if folks included a link to their blog in their signatures.
Amy
...o0o...
Amy Lenzo
a...@beautydialogues.com
FOC08 Blog: http://allislight.typepad.com/facilitating_online_commu/
Joao Alves
Aug 8, 2008, 11:09:46 AM8/8/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Excellent suggestion, Amy.
Joao
http://joaocarlosalves.eu
Joao
http://joaocarlosalves.eu
2008/8/8 Amy Lenzo <a...@beautydialogues.com>
NELLIE DEUTSCH
Aug 8, 2008, 2:39:10 PM8/8/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
shane.tech.teach
Aug 8, 2008, 5:11:23 PM8/8/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
I agree, great idea. I feel a little disjointed in my contributions as
I deal with this early in my morning (Australia). This seems to land
between periods of activity. Oh well, can only do what I can do.
BTW posted in my blog about my thoughts on the push vs pull characteristics of online communities.
BTW posted in my blog about my thoughts on the push vs pull characteristics of online communities.
shane.te...@gmail.com Twitter: shanetechteach Blog: http://shane-tech-teach.blogspot.com
Leigh Blackall
Aug 10, 2008, 7:34:09 PM8/10/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
I have a question about the live Elluminate sessions – are there going to be any more of them? I haven't seen a schedule, and being on the other side of the world here in California, I'm finding it helps to know about them well in advance.
Hello Amy,
Ideally, we would set a regular time weekly perhaps that we could meet in Elluminate, free of any agenda, just a weekly touch base. But we are all in different time zones so finding a common time is impossible. The Elluminate room is always open and accessible at any time if people wanted to coordinate their own meetings. But I think we do need a regular time/s so that people know when to drop in if they have time. Perhaps we could set 2 times per week, designed to reach all time zones. I think those times would be 9am and 9pm UTC.. does those times give everyone an opportunity to join?
Joao Alves
Aug 10, 2008, 8:05:49 PM8/10/08
to facilitating-on...@googlegroups.com
Both would be ok for me although 9 p.m. UTC (I think that is 10 p.m. Lisbon time) would be even better.
Joao
Joao
2008/8/11 Leigh Blackall <leighb...@gmail.com>
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