We were All N00bs: Learning the Social Web by Using the Social Web

Nathan FlinchumCommunity Technology Center Librarian

Roanoke Public LibrariesRoanoke, VA

Computers in Libraries 2009

The Deep End of Web 2.0

Common Concerns

There are too many different sites.I have to sign up for everything!Why don't they look/act/work the same?

It can seem overwhelming!

Ask Yourself:

How did you learn the Internet? Web 2.0?

You used it.

Why did you use it?

Communication

Expression

Build Community

Something you liked used the Web as a tool

Our “on-ramp” to the Internet

A single site or group of sites about a subject

Fandoms (Movies, TV, Books)HobbiesCollectingLifestylesDating

“On-Ramp” Qualities

Largely self-contained

Variety of skill levels and experience

One set of tools One set of rules One set of skills to learn

Example

Catie

Catie...

Knits and Spins

Married with kids

Friends and family all online

Had email but didn't use the Internet much

Web seemed foreign, complicated

Ravelry (www.ravelry.com)

Social Network for Knitters!!Hundreds of thousands of members!!

PatternsStash PicturesWorks in Progress and Completed WorkAdvice and HelpFriends (Global and Local)

Catie on Ravelry

Advantages of Using an On-Rampin Computer Training

Safe “sandbox” environmentlimits effect of goofspromotes trying new things

Skills are applicable elsewherelearning without "learning"

Student CommunicationSkill-Sharing/Knowledge-BuildingPeer and Mentorship Building

**We know more about our online friends than we do about our coworkers!**

Creating an On-Ramp

RYO Social Network/2.0 Service

Ning (Social Network)

Wetpaint (Community Site)

PBWiki (Wiki)

Laconica (Microblogging a la Twitter)

Make it Private!

It's a safe place to play!

Your political career is safe.

Make Friends and Steal from Them!

Learn from others by copying from their profiles, posting comments to their posts, and creating your own content in response to theirs.

Steal from Us!

Find this presentation (along with many others) and all my computer class materials at the Roanoke Public Libraries Presentation Site:

http://roanokepl.wetpaint.com

Nathan Flinchumjustnathan@gmail.comjustnathan.infoJustnathan on Metafilter, Twitter, LinkedIn, Delicious, Diigo, etc., etc.