I’m 41.
That’s 536 in internet years.
I’ve been involved with edtech for more than a decade and seen a lot of tools come and go.
These days it seems I’m seeing a lot of tools come; but I’m choosing not to get involved with them. This has changed for me in the past 1.5 years or so. I used to get every account that came around. If it was new, I wanted in and I wanted in early. Beta tester accounts up for grabs? Yes please.
These days though, I find I am getting much more choosy about what I sign up for and spend my time with. Maybe it has to do with limits on the time I have to spend with tools. But there are a lot of spaces I’ve chosen to stay out of.
The most recent is Google +. While I admit that I am one of only approximately ten people in the Western world who aren’t on facebook either, I just can’t see a reason for signing up for this tool. The circles and hangouts seem more like a closed network that feels (as an outsider) like a high school popularity contest, and as for sparks, the item that Google advertises as “A feed of just the stuff you’re really into;” it’s called RSS, I’ve had it for years.
So what’s new? What’s different? I’m not seeing it.
But that’s not really different for me these days. That’s why I’m wondering if I’ve got a bad case of the COMS.
I’m not a facebooker. I’ve stayed out of Diigo. I dropped ning when they wanted me to pay. I don’t plurk or use voicethread in my classroom. The list could go on.
Meanwhile, some of the main tools that I use have been around for awhile. I love wordpress and all that is possible with it. While my google reader sometimes gets very full, I use it a lot as well. I will be in delicious until they shut the doors. Twitter has turned into a main space for me to find new people, new connections and new information. I’ve been a lot more choosy about what I use professionally and with what I use in my classroom as well, but I’m wondering about the consequences of this.
How do the tools you use effect the shape, size, and vitality of your network? How do the spaces you are part of effect what kinds of information you have access to? As far as I’m concerned, my network is meeting my information needs, but am I missing out on things / people / connections by purposely limiting my network and shaping it using certain tools? I am vastly in favour of open networks and connections, but at what point am I constructing a closed information ecology for myself by choosing fewer tools?
I am glad you continued this “twitter” conversation to a blog post.
I have to wonder lately if there is not something to be admired for longevity and discernment before diving into the deep water.
People are leaping into the deep water of G+ (Google +) but to be honest, that makes me step back and use an even more critical eye in viewing it. How in one week can it already to labeled “the best thing in education?”
What we can say about delicious is “it worked and it continues to work.” We can say the same thing for wordpress as well. I can say the same for wordle.
But not only that — we can say “this tool works for me”.
In no way are you ever denying that a tool might work better for someone other than yourself…..and that is where we can dismiss your worry that you are “constructing a closed information ecology”.
You are not closing the door to learning about the options from others experiences…..because you will pay attention. You are just proving that when you find an option that works, you don’t have to dismiss it when another option shows up.
Just my thoughts.
Jen
Hi Clarence,
You are indeed fortunate. I am nearly 53 and I was actually born with COMS. I know how you feel.
Your tools of choice mirror mine to a tee: WordPress, Google Reader, Twitter and Delicious. They are robust, meaningful and simply practical. Their value for educators is intrinsic.
I cannot help but feel that the other tools that rode the wave of web 2.0 hype have to be hammered with a metaphorical mallet before they are useful for educators. So far, based on what I have read so far, I feel that this will apply to Google+.
I think I have moved on from the hype of 2007 and 2008.
You ask Clarence, “How do the tools you use effect the shape, size, and vitality of your network?” Well, for me, the people that agree, sympathise and empathise with my thoughts follow and/or interact with me via Twitter. The really interested members of my network contribute to my blog. That is more than enough. It is good, very good.
Jen, I agree. Don’t jump in too quickly. I am curious about Google+, more so in how it will impact upon Google search algorithms, but that is all. I do not think I will take Google+ and jump hoops to make it work in the classroom. I am already beginning to see unfavourable reports regarding privacy issues. I will allow the network to assist me to make up my mind re Google+ and whatever else appears on the horizon.
Clarence, as Jen comments as well, you are not closing the door to other experiences. If anything you are enriching and consolidating the connections and experiences that you have nurtured to date.
Cheers,
John
I think everyone has to find which tools work best for them. I love using VoiceThread with my students. That doesn’t mean it’s what everyone must use. I’m grateful to the folks that jump on new tools early and begin finding the pros and cons. It allows me to hold back if I wish and pick and choose based on their thoughts.
I guess I think that remaining open to new possibilities is important, but everyone has to decide for themselves what works best for their situation and their students.
Thanks all for jumping in here with your thoughts. You are all making me look at this in another light. Instead of looking at it as closing the door, I’ll call it consolidating my experiences.
But it is true that we all need to find the tools which fit us, our teaching and researching styles best. Jabiz Raisdana posted on twitter today something to the effect of “we do best when we read different books together.” This gave me some pause. How are we enriching our networks, our possibilities for learning if we all are using the same tools? Doesn’t help us much.
John, I like how you simply word it: I’m past the hype.. Me too.
Some days my natural tendency for COMS is in control (and I’ve been a COM longer than you have
) and I feel the same way: why bother with yet another tool when the one I’m using works just fine, thank you. I have a rarely used Facebook page and languishing accounts at Diigo, Ning, Plurk and many others I don’t even remember registering for.
However, most of the time, my also-natural curiosity takes over and I just have to see if this shiny new thing is really as wonderful as the buzz says it is. 95% of the time the answer is a resounding no, but all it has cost me is an hour or so (and that’s usually all it takes) of time exploring. What I gain is enough of an understanding of this latest new, new thing to be able to discuss the advantages/disadvantages of it with curious teachers, principals and other educators. Not everyone has the time or need to swim through the web 2.0 soup like this but I’m fortunate to be able to say “it’s part of my job”.
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Well I an one of the ten – no face book for me either, or twitter.
I like to keep an eye out for possibilities, the children in my class let me know about tool they are playing with and between us I think we get a good overview and see which tools add something to our learning or change the way we can have conversations.