We were All N00bs: Learning the Social Web by Using the Social Web Nathan Flinchum Community Technology Center Librarian Roanoke Public Libraries Roanoke, 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!

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

Communication

Expression

Build Community

Our “on-ramp” to the Internet A single site or group of sites about a subject Fandoms (Movies, TV, Books) Hobbies Collecting Lifestyles Dating

A single site or group of sites about a subject

Fandoms (Movies, TV, Books)

Hobbies

Collecting

Lifestyles

Dating

“ 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

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

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!! Patterns Stash Pictures Works in Progress and Completed Work Advice and Help Friends (Global and Local)

Social Network for Knitters!!

Hundreds of thousands of members!!

Patterns

Stash Pictures

Works in Progress and Completed Work

Advice and Help

Friends (Global and Local)

Catie on Ravelry

Advantages of Using an On-Ramp in Computer Training Safe “sandbox” environment limits effect of goofs promotes trying new things Skills are applicable elsewhere learning without "learning" Student Communication Skill-Sharing/Knowledge-Building Peer and Mentorship Building **We know more about our online friends than we do about our coworkers!**

Safe “sandbox” environment

limits effect of goofs

promotes trying new things

Skills are applicable elsewhere

learning without "learning"

Student Communication

Skill-Sharing/Knowledge-Building

Peer 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)

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 Flinchum [email_address] justnathan.info Justnathan on Metafilter, Twitter, LinkedIn, Delicious, Diigo, etc., etc.