Thinking Out Loud 2012, Undergraduate Research ConferenceYork St John University
Digital Connectedness: Taking Ownership of Your Professional Online Presence
Sue Beckingham
A social network is a social structure made up of a set of actors (such as individuals or organizations) and
the dyadic ties (interaction) between these actors.
Why networks matter
“Power does not reside ininstitutions, not even the state or
large corporations. It is located in the networks that structure society . . .”
Manuel Castells
Busy Connected NetworkStructures
What Happens In An Internet Minute?
Network benefits
Access to information, knowledge and experience.
The goal in a network is to make all the experience, skills and knowledge – tacit or explicit – available to anyone at the point
of needAnklam 2007
Sir Ken Robinson (2010) RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms
Think for a moment about
• your connections
• what you share with others
• and why....
Hold those thoughts
Communication Spectrum
• Collaborating• Moderating• Negotiating• Debating• Commenting• Net meeting, Skyping,
Video Conferencing• Reviewing• Questioning
• Replying• Posting and Blogging• Networking• Contributing• Chatting• E-mailing• Twittering/microblogging• Instant Messaging• Texting
Churches, A. (2009) Blooms Revised Digital Taxonomyhttp://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom%27s+Digital+Taxonomy
Your personal choice of toolsSolis and Thom
as (2009) htt
p://ww
w.theconversationprism
.com
Your personal level of involvement
• Creators• Conversationalists• Critics• Collectors• Joiners• Spectators• Inactives
Online connectedness
• Enables and provides support for learning• Can increase the effectiveness of learning• Can increase access to learning. • Allows people to connect with each other in
spite of geographical distances• Provides a forum and permission to participate• Complements face to face communication
Adapted from George Siemens http://www.elearnspace.org
Consider how you
might use your network
• making professional
connections
• engaging with a wider
audience
• listening, producing
and sharing
• using the most relevant
social media tool for
the task in hand
• developing a
professional digital
identity
We live in a world of mobile, social and always-on media
1. Attention2. Crap detection3. Participation4. Collaboration5. Network know-how.
Howard Rheingold, 2012Net Smart: How to Thrive Online
More than ever before, humans need to teach and learn from each other about human-centric
ways to use new tools. One important step that people can take is to
become more adept at five essential literacies:
Clay Shirky argues that“It is not information overload,
it is filter failure”
Information need Critical evaluation Selection
<< Smarter collaborative filtering
Useful information
New Skills
Virtual collaboration - Ability to work productively, drive engagement and demonstrate presence as a member of a virtual team.
Future Work Skills 2020
New-media literacy - Ability to critically assess and develop content that uses new media forms, and to leverage these media for persuasive communications.
The potential to develop global connections
Learner 2.0• Operate within decentralised and
deliberately formed networks of tools, resources and people
• Established through contributions to blogs, tweets/tweeting via Twitter; sharing slides (Slideshare) etc
• Crowdsource ideas, active/passive social search e.g. for research or assessment
• Importantly it is both personal and collaborative
Source: David Hopkins, 2009, University of Bournemouth http://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk @hopkinsdavid
Graduate Attributes
‘Our country will need different kinds of student experiences to enable its
graduates to contribute to the world of the future’.
Prof. Paul Ramsden,
JISC Student Experiences of Technology: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/campaigns/studentexperiences.aspx
However....Unlike
footprints in the sand your
digital footprints are permanent
How will your digital shadows from your past impact on your future?
Raise your privacy settings on Facebook Don’t disclose personal informationBe careful what you share and who you share it with
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach
your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the
door to personal excellence.
Confucius
Digital Connectedness: Taking Ownership of Your Professional Online Presence
Developing pathways to connectedness essentially commences with family and friends, but over time new connections outside of these circles begin to form ever increasing and interlinking
circles. These informal and formal networks have the potential to help you unlock new doors to new opportunities. Social media can without doubt provide excellent communication
channels and a space to develop your network of connections. Nonetheless as your online presence expands it leaves behind both digital footprints and digital shadows; and this needs to
be given due consideration. This keynote will look at the value of developing a professional online presence and why as future
graduates you need to take ownership of this.
http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/ltd/ltd/student-engagement/undergraduate-research-confere.aspx
Sue Beckingham@suebecks
Sheffield Hallam University
