More on this "Individual/Collective" Thing
Sebastian Fiedler posted on the relationship between self-directed learning and the nature of blogs -- the way we "own" our blog. Now this was interesting and if you are looking at the role of blogs in learning, do read the full post. I think he's nailed something essential about blogs. But I want to take a small turn off on to a side road.
What I'm wondering about is how do we balance the amazing power of self learning, of the autodidact, with learning in community and things such as Communities of Practice? Again, I'm seeing this gap between the individual and the collective which online seems to be reinforced by the nature of the tools we use to do and express this stuff.
Blogs feel strongly individualistic. They publish. They speak outward. Wikis are communal and individual ownership can be blurred or obliterated. Discussion forums are great for divergent discussions, but require a degree of dedication for convergence that not many hang in there. Telephone calls create their own set of barriers. RSS has been suggested as the glue, but RSS connects. It does not create or "hold the space" for the negotiation of meaning between individuals ideas and knowledge.
Where's the bridge and what is the balance? Is this individual/collective thing something we should think about? Worry about? Devote resources for tools and processes?
posted by Nancy White at 8:16 AM
3 Comments:
"...worry..."
Fascinating me, continually, is the idea that something new can bring up so much un-ease so quickly.
I'm reading one of Napleon Hill's books, and am reminded that for as long as time change, new-ness, and opportunity often get in the way of our ability to produce and co-create the life we want to enjoy.
Community: open the front door to your house and you have an RSS feed...what do you notice? That's new. Now, open your computer...and notice what you notice. That's a cool experiment!
Jason
http://jason.davidco.com
Jason, mmm, thought provoking. Yes.
I think it is more than just "something new" for me. It goes to my personality which is on the veneer quite extroverted, but at the core somewhat introverted. I constantly push myself - I'm good at taking risks -- but that inner part of me keeps worrying. It is a pattern from childhood. I'm better at managing it now as a fourty-something, but it is part of me.
That said, yes, the "somthing new" IS an important part of it. This is what is really interesting in the deployment of new technologies -- particulary in different contexts and cultures as this leap translates differently in different settings. Understanding a bit more about this will help us understand how to get to the second wave of things. Us early adopters will leap, even if we worry. The second wave may not, eh?
Now, about opening the door of my house. Hmm. Have to clean it up first. It has been a while. One of these days I'll post a picture of my tiny office. I'll scare everyone!
Nancy,
I'm constantly struggling with "blogs feel strongly individualistic". Of course they do, but for many they also bring connections with a community... And for some it turns into learning community. We tried to explain it in Learning webs: learning in weblog networks, talking about synergies of self-organised and community learning between other things:
A weblog provides its author with personal space for learning that does not impose a communal learning agenda and learning style. At the same time learners are not alienated and can benefit from a community feedback, validation and further development of ideas.Will see how much I can write on it tonight, but definetely this is something to explore on Sunday. Looking foward.
Lilia [Mathemagenic]
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