Sunday, May 23, 2010

Online Communities: Interviews with SDAWP Colleagues


Please post in this comment section on any interviews you've conducted with fellow SDAWP colleagues:

9 comments:

  1. SDAWP Fellow (Interview via Email from Christine Kane):

    Website Questions:
    * What makes you stay engaged on a website (of any kind) for a long period of time?
    If I stay on one website for a long time it's to read and get "fed" with new information (ex website: TED.com)

    * What "catches your eye" on a website and makes you linger a bit longer than usual to check it out?
    I'm not a website browser AT ALL. I go to websites per recommendation of friends/peers, or am directed there by list serves and
    online news periodicals.

    Blog Questions:
    * What makes you lurk on a website or blog but not post a comment?
    I like to read what others have to say, especially in response to information on Edutopia and/or TED. I haven't joined in the
    conversation yet, because I'm not reading to engage in conversation and therefor know that I won't return to read the response(s).
    I'm just there to get divergent viewpoints on a topic. In addition, I feel there are way too many people out there talking without
    listening, and I don't want to be that person. I only want to post if I feel I have something new or critical to say.

    Social Networking Questions:
    * What types of virtual online communities do you belong to? Facebook

    * Why do you return to some websites over others repeatedly? I only go to Facebook; that's all I can manage in my busy life (and even
    that is almost too much)

    * Why join social networking sites (Facebook, Myspace etc)? Why post on a social networking site?
    It's a really fun way to interact with my friends from overseas and my family and friends from around the US. I like that I have to
    access to interesting things my trusted friends post, and the freedom to view it or ignore it. In addition, posting what I believe are
    interesting videos, articles, and ideas, is a quick way to get the message out to those who may be interested. Anther fascinating
    aspect for me, is that it comes as a surprise sometimes as to who will be interested and respond to a post or sharing.

    * What makes you feel safe in a virtual online community to post your own opinions/comments?
    I only share my information/posts with friends and friends of friends.

    * What elements of an online community turn you off from becoming a member?
    Too much information/don't have time

    * What elements of an online community entice you to become a member?
    Free access to ideas/information/pictures. Sharing with friends and family is my number one reason to participate.

    Online Activity Questions:
    * What do you download most often from the internet?
    Video and photos

    * What do you upload to the internet?
    Photos

    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your professional career?
    Emailing colleagues, reading professional journals, watching education-related videos, watching inspirational videos

    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your personal life?
    Emailing friends and family, checking Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  2. SDAWP Fellow Part 1 (Interview completed via email by Christine Kane)

    1 Websites Probably the only ones I spend much time on are the NYT and TED. Both share an almost infinite number of categories and thoughtful writers in those categories, so although their realms are different, there are many rooms. What they share also is a high degree of reliability, they are vetted, the writers/presenters are experts and know they're in a highly public forum, so there's a social and peer review aspect that's functioning. I may occasionally go to other websites, and do if I'm researching something, but really nothing on a regular basis. Interestingly, websites that have imagery of the outdoors is something that will catch my eye, a window where there is none, and any level of crankiness, punditry or rant will turn me off, also any type of objectification or exploitation of humanity or animals, women in particular, really is a turn off. I'd like to reply but know that would be an invitation. As far as educational sites, my teaching contexts have been so unique, and my curriculum so.. .a-typical... that I rarely, rarely use them. I do remind my students that if they're stuck, or absent, to use the tools, "how to write a summary" or "conclusions" just to have something, to know there are answers and suggestions out there, but to really look at real text when they want to problem-solves as writers. Poorly designed sites, visually, ones that look too business-y, in general are uninviting. I'm visual, so I appreciate design, imagery and text, organized and blended well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SDAWP Interview Part 2 (Interview via email by Christine Kane)

    2 Blogs The only blog I read or contribute to are the ones I need to, as in "have to." I don't look them up, "listen in" or otherwise participate; it feels like listening in on a party line for some reason, there's something voyeuristic that creeps me out. We all know more people read than participate, so there's an intimate register issue if and when you don't know the people. Only the insiders contribute, so they marginalize. I don't lurk, they come to me and sometimes I read them and sometimes I delete them. For educational ones the questions posed might require so much frontloading or explanation I couldn't begin to respond. Just because everyone can blog doesn't man everyone has something of any importance to say; I'm way over it, really. This questions opens the bigger question of sorting: there's too much crap out there.

    3.Even though the researcher last year tried to demonstrate that I really am a participant in a wide quilt of networks, I don't see myself there, at all, and the only one I really use is the SDAWP one, and I barely remember my secret codes. I can't imagine having a network, I do not feel safe at all with them, just the idea that there's no control or protection, that anyone could see what you post is enough to keep me away. But really even it they were highly protected, I have no interest in documenting, publicizing, advertising or otherwise being narcissistic about my small boring life.I don't get it. I realize I don't get it either, so maybe I'm part of the other side of the divide, but I think of friends and relationships the old-fashioned way, voice and face and food,true dialogue and not declaratives with jpegs. I'm not where I see my life as a performance, and I'm not interested in others who do.
    It's become sort of monstrous, people doing things in order to document it, in order to...matter? To whom? for what? It's a weird anti-social, un-spiritual public face that we misperceive as a real face. So I guess the question is: How can you be real in a public space?

    4 Online My students upload work to a classroom website (minnicksville.org) which I should visit more than I do. I up or down load very little. There's a blog I receive daily (two actually, the Writer's Almanac is the other)on perfumes and scents. They had a link to a four-hour symposium at Parson's on the design of scents. Fascinating, really, but the idea of sitting in from of the computer, listening/watching for that much time, freaks me out. I like TED because the chunks are manageable - why wouldn't I use the computer for sustained"learning."

    ReplyDelete
  4. SDAWP Fellow (Interview completed via email by Christine Kane)

    Website Questions:
    * What makes you stay engaged on a website (of any kind) for a long period of time?
    * What "catches your eye" on a website and makes you linger a bit longer than usual to check it out? Pictures, visually stimulating
    * What makes you leave a website instantly or turns you off from returning to it again? Too much text; dark colors

    Blog Questions: I’ve never used a blog or seen one, I think
    * Why do you blog?


    Social Networking Questions:
    * What types of virtual online communities do you belong to? Facebook
    * Why do you return to some websites over others repeatedly? Friends, colleagues are mostly on FAcebook
    * Why join social networking sites (Facebook, Myspace etc)? Why post on a social networking site? To reconnect with childhood and college friends.
    * What makes you feel safe in a virtual online community to post your own opinions/comments? The particular people I choose to “friend” on FB
    * What elements of an online community turn you off from becoming a member? No control over privacy settings.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SDAWP Fellow (Interview completed via email by Christine Kane)

    Website Questions:
    * What makes you stay engaged on a website (of any kind) for a long period of time? Good writing -- engaging and error-free -- that's in a conversationalish tone.
    * What "catches your eye" on a website and makes you linger a bit longer than usual to check it out? pictures or catchy titles of posts/articles
    * What makes you leave a website instantly or turns you off from returning to it again? errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. or if it isn't updated regularly

    Blog Questions:
    * Why do you blog? to teach my students cultural and personal criticism/analysis
    * Why do you post on blogs? as models to my students
    * What makes you lurk on a website or blog but not post a comment? If I know the blogger, but not very well or only tangentially, so I feel a little weird posting my ideas. If I know the blogger well, I comment all the time.
    * Why do you check in with certain blogs repeatedly? Humor, voice, and frequent posting.

    Social Networking Questions:
    * What types of virtual online communities do you belong to? None yet!

    Online Activity Questions:
    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your professional career? Lesson planning and responding to students' writing.
    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your personal life? Reading funny blogs and the NYT.

    ReplyDelete
  6. SDAWP Fellow (Interview completed via email by Christine Kane)

    I stay on a site that is easy to navigate through and provides images if I'm shopping.
    I do not return to sites that are confusing and not easy to navigate through. Or if a site provides a great deal of rather irrelevant info. Also if there is a slow connection I will abandon a site.
    I like FB because I can keep in touch with many people without havin to call or visit. It is fast and convenient.

    ReplyDelete
  7. SDAWP Fellow (Interview completed via email by Christine Kane)

    Website Questions:
    * What makes you stay engaged on a website (of any kind) for a long period of time?
    I will stay if it is interesting/informative, offers a service that makes my life easier( Amazon/ Barnes & Noble, etc) or entertaining ( the Onion).It has to be easy to navigate or I will leave, even if I want what they have to offer.

    * What "catches your eye" on a website and makes you linger a bit longer than usual to check it out?
    Good combination of visuals & text, without a lot of "stuff" going on.
    * What makes you leave a website instantly or turns you off from returning to it again?
    I hate ads, especially things that pop up when you are trying to look for something. I also don't like websites that have built in sound, so that it starts talking/playing music when you click on.


    Social Networking Questions:
    * What types of virtual online communities do you belong to?
    Facebook
    * Why do you return to some websites over others repeatedly?
    Facebook is updated constantly. There is always something new to see. I have gotten hooked on some of the word games, so if I have time, I'll play a lot (not for a while, though).
    * Why join social networking sites (Facebook, Myspace etc)? Why post on a social networking site?
    Although it is a major time suck, it is a great way to keep up with friends, especially since many people post so many pictures.
    I don't post every move I make and find it annoying when others do. But I have kept in contact with my cousins far more than I would if I had to call or write. I LOVE that our president has a FB profile.
    * What makes you feel safe in a virtual online community to post your own opinions/comments?
    I have only done this on SDAWP and Facebook.SDAWP and other WP sites have incredible people--there is great stuff to read and contributing makes me feel good, like I have something to say. Facebook allows me to show opinions that I feel strongly about, through the groups I join.
    * What elements of an online community turn you off from becoming a member?
    I don't want to give out personal information and I don't want to get constant notices and requests for donations.I don't want my willingness to join one group seen as an open invitation to share my named/email with other like groups.
    * What elements of an online community entice you to become a member?
    Ability to keep current


    Online Activity Questions:
    * What do you upload to the internet?
    photos/ ordering online
    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your professional career?
    looking for lesson plans, resources, reading education articles
    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your personal life?
    Facebook ( I am addicted--hate to admit that)

    ReplyDelete
  8. SDAWP Fellow (Interview via email by Christine Kane)

    Website Questions:
    * What makes you stay engaged on a website (of any kind) for a long period of time?
    It will have information I need or something that I need to buy.

    * What "catches your eye" on a website and makes you linger a bit longer than usual to check it out?
    Usually nothing- I really only go to websites I already know.
    * What makes you leave a website instantly or turns you off from returning to it again?
    Viruses or those scary pop up windows that want you to click them.

    Blog Questions:
    * Why do you blog?
    I used to blog for school, the agenda and homework, but now I don't.
    * Why do you post on blogs?
    * What makes you lurk on a website or blog but not post a comment?
    * Why do you check in with certain blogs repeatedly?

    Social Networking Questions:
    * What types of virtual online communities do you belong to?
    I am a Facebook addict.
    * Why do you return to some websites over others repeatedly?
    * Why join social networking sites (Facebook, Myspace etc)? Why post on a social networking site?
    I love keeping in touch with my friends from around the world.
    * What makes you feel safe in a virtual online community to post your own opinions/comments?
    I really don't post personal information or something that might come back to me in a harmful way.
    * What elements of an online community turn you off from becoming a member?
    If it is primarily engaged in by high schoolers or younger.
    * What elements of an online community entice you to become a member?
    If other people I know are on it and are having a good experience.

    Online Activity Questions:
    * What do you download most often from the internet?
    Free school activities
    * What do you upload to the internet?
    Pictures and at school I upload my documents to Dropbox to share with my colleagues
    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your professional career?
    Looking for resources
    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your personal life?
    Buying, selling, Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  9. SDAWP Fellow (Interview completed via email by Christine Kane)

    Website Questions:
    * What makes you stay engaged on a website (of any kind) for a long period of time?
    It has to be something I'm interested in or need to find desperately. Sometimes I like to browse, but usually don't waste the time.
    * What "catches your eye" on a website and makes you linger a bit longer than usual to check it out?
    Often it's just a title or link that has me intrigued for a little longer.
    * What makes you leave a website instantly or turns you off from returning to it again?
    If I want to explore something and it doesn't work the first time, or at least the second time, forget it!

    Blog Questions:
    * Why do you blog?
    Have only done it with SDAWP and under great pressure. I don't find it very engaging regardless of the topic. Of course, that has been to learn about it in the lab when I could more easily just talk to the person.
    * Why do you post on blogs?
    N/A
    * What makes you lurk on a website or blog but not post a comment?
    N/A
    * Why do you check in with certain blogs repeatedly?
    N/A

    Social Networking Questions:
    * What types of virtual online communities do you belong to? none
    * Why do you return to some websites over others repeatedly?
    * Why join social networking sites (Facebook, Myspace etc)? Why post on a social networking site?
    * What makes you feel safe in a virtual online community to post your own opinions/comments?
    * What elements of an online community turn you off from becoming a member? If I want to communicate with someone, I will call or e-mail. I've heard too many horror stories about people's information being tampered with. I have no desire to reconnect with people from 100 years ago during my childhood!
    * What elements of an online community entice you to become a member?

    Online Activity Questions:
    * What do you download most often from the internet? e-mail crap sent by my friends--all mostly worthless, but funny
    * What do you upload to the internet?
    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your professional career?
    reading articles or searching for specific info for my class
    * What do you spend most of your time online in regards to your personal life?
    limited, but looking for things on craigs list or when purchasing some items
    e-mail

    ReplyDelete