Learning log - Week #5: final comments

"I was especially happy to be exposed to using tools (e.g. Dgroups, blogs, etc) which I had only seen, but never quite understood how they worked. I am glad we have been able to start one D-group as a result of this workshop. I'll now be looking to identify & advise on areas where we can apply these tools to work more efficiently.”

"Acquérir des nouvelles connaissances ou techniques en ce domaine précis me réconforte dans mes activités ; étant appelé à faciliter les contacts au sein des réseaux local et national en information agricole. J’ai découvert d’autres outils de diffusion de l’information que le blog que je mettrai à profit."

"Lots of what was shared and taught was in some way already known, however bringing things into perspective for online groups was most insightful. I will take away from the workshop the clear image that so long as the purpose of the group is kept constantly in focus then the facilitator can find paths to get there."

"This workshop has been an eye-opener and I am very glad to have participated. Building trust as you get to know the people is still important for successful work."

"I am now a little more confident about participating in online discussions and may even try now to link up with the group I met previously."

Podcast and podcasting

Something to know:

Podcast - in common use, the term refers to audio files published to the web along with a news feed, letting users subscribe to a series of shows and download them automatically. Podcasts are a collection of files, such as audio MP3 files or other media files, referenced in an RSS 2.0 news feed as enclosures.

Podcasting - the process of publishing audio files, typically in MP3 format, along with news feeds so that listeners can download them and listen to them on their computer or portable digital audio player.

So, when you see this sign you know that someone is podcasting.

Learning Log - Week #4: tell the group you’re changing hats

“IF we are called on to shift our role, it is useful to tell the group what you are doing.

Transparency is even more important online - otherwise people can make assumptions which are often quite different than our intentions.”

Learning Log - Week #3: many members each take a bit of the load

"The one-man (person) show is untenable and we have to find alternatives and quickly...

I have to chime in again - I can't resist. This point is CENTRAL to successful network work. It cannot be a hub with one person at the middle and the rest of the network like spokes. There just isn't enough time in the day for the hub. We need to really think about many sets of connections and many hands helping. Networks thrive when many members each take a bit of the load. You know you have succeeded when you don't have to ask them to do this anymore - they just DO IT!

This asks us to rethink how we work. It asks us to give up some control. It often challenges some of our organizational patterns. But it is very exciting and very powerful."

How to podcast

We need to understand how to podcast.
This means that we need to transform a single audio file in a real podcast.The steps we have to follow are:

1. produce audio files and we store them somewhere on the web,
2. publish them in our blogs or webpages,
3. create podcast feeds,
4. promote them using services like iPodder, iTunes, etc.

It seems difficult but it is not so. Start reading this tutorial about the whole process.

Then, when you have a clearer idea, go into every sinlge step of the process using the guidelines provided by the tutorial.

In the meanwhile, have a look to a Podcast Publishing Software list.How to podcast

Learning Log - Week #3: Trust is central

"Very related to norms and agreements is building relationship and trust in a group. Sometimes this is hard. There is a tension caused by a lack of time. When people are busy, they are less inclined to spend time building relationships, and developing trust with others in a network. Yet trust is central for sharing work products and building knowledge together.

Research into online groups has surfaced what is probably obvious to us. Trust is important. What is interesting is that for many trust is often given quickly online, but if it is broken, it is withdrawn faster and often more permanently then offline. In other words, we become less forgiving. So the importance of trust is high."

Learning Log - Week #2: Start ONLINE

"I have found that pre-F2F work online makes F2F meetings more productive. For groups that have to go online and have a chance to be F2F, I usually suggest they start ONLINE first.

This helps people test their sense of others online, gain some identity and trust, then when they go F2F not only does the meeting get going faster, but people can verify their impressions. This builds trust in each other and in online communication. I find groups that start online also go back online easier after the F2F. Groups that start F2F leave with good intentions, but often are slow to go back online.

Finally, there is a time when starting F2F is advisable - that's when you have a group with NO technology experience. Then you can work with folks hands on to learn the tools. Then go online. Otherwise, start online first!"

Learning Log - Week #2: Motivations

"People often don't learn a skill just to learn it. Try to make sure people have applications in mind before doing the training. It helps!
When expressing this, you might also want to include WHY this is important. Help them see POSSIBILITIES. Some people have a clear picture of why. Others may need some illustrations or examples. A short story can be powerful for this."

Learning Log - Week #2: Organizational change

We may be trying to facilitate collaboration and networking, but we may not be operating in an organizational culture with this competency. When we fail, we often blame it on the technology. If we look closer, it can often be related to our organizational culture. So looking at initiatives that reinforce the value of and skills to network in ANY environment is important for online success.

The introduction of a "network way of thinking" (many to many, peer to peer and often around and between our traditional top down systems) which is enabled by internet technology actually is about organizational change. It asks us to change the way we work, the way we think, the way we lead and manage. But it is often surfaced as an issue of technology and cost savings.

In reality, it is about deeper changes and if we don't pay attention to those deeper changes, the online stuff may not work.

Layer of layers

This is one layer of my photographic layer!

These pictures were shot during the AMARC training course for Rural Radio broadcasters at the Soweto hospital, in August 2003.

- Interviewing people in the hospital


- Preparing the radio program


- Mixing voices and music


- Recording in the studio

Learning Log - Week #2: Meaning and value for participants

"How might you communicate with your participants to market your online interaction space? Remember: If you build it, they may not come!

There is the saying that you can build something that is wonderful, but unless others know about it, care about it and want to participate, they won't come. Just setting up an email list or a web interaction space is not enough to ensure success. We must make sure it has meaning and value to the participants and we have to let them know it is there!"