Will Richardson has a great post about a framework for assessing network building. This paragraph stood out for me, because I’ve been looking at my own network recently as well:
Weblogg-ed » Assessing Network Building
I constantly struggle with my own work in this. The last few weeks, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the nodes in my network, trying to think critically about diversity, reexamining the tools I use to access it, looking at the ways I interact and what I contribute. For all sorts of time-related reasons, I’m not happy with the scope of my work right now either; it feels too text heavy, too comfortable. And, for many of the same reasons and even though I have made some changes of late, my network seems static. I need to come up with some strategies for freshening things up around here.
Looking at the nodes, yes. I’ve been looking at the nodes on my network and doing some reflection there. It would be easy to just look at the nodes represented in my ‘gator. Easy and misleading, because my ‘gator is only portion of my network. It represents - for the most part - the textual portions. There’s a whole ‘nother side represented by my twitter friends, the people I have on IM, the podcasts that load to my iPod, and the work that I produce in audio myself.
There are people that probably aren’t adding a lot to my ‘gator. With over 450 feeds there, more than a few of them get a cursory glance and “mark as read.” There are folks in my twitter-space that don’t contribute much, but I keep them because, every once in a while, they say something funny, or poignant. My ‘gator as education, news, technology, and political feeds. My twitter-peeps are split between educators and podcasters with a smattering of miscellaneous gems that I stumbled on by accident.
Then there are the avatars I know from SecondLife. And the MUDders I play with occasionally. And the folks I know (and owe a visit to) from TappedIn.
And that’s just the electronic network. I count the people I know in RL but don’t talk to all that much because I really only get to connect to them when I meet them in person. Relatives. Professional colleagues who aren’t connected (yes, and don’t get me started on them).
There’s probably part of my network that I’m overlooking.
On of the interesting challenges in assessing network building, then, is even figuring out who and what your network is. Much like trying to assess learning, there’s a limitation on that assessment which is imposed by the nature of the assessment. You can only assess what you’re looking for. Incidental learning, which might actually be a more profound learning, disappears. If I’m examining the nodes I’ve specifically added to serve - say - education, I might well overlook the developing relationship with my barrista who speeds me on my day by recognizing me by my drink and offers an interesting perception on humanity from behind the expresso bar.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I read the article and what stood out to me is you have to know your networks. Before you can refresh or rivise your nodes you have to know your networks. I am learning new networks and I need to use these forms of communication to my advantage. There are resources out there but I need to explore and learn how these networks are going to be used to help me as a professional.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:53 am
I think knowing your networks are the most important aspect of revising your nodes. Different networks provide their own individual purpose. What do you expect from networks on your IM? Gaming? Discussion boards? etc. This is essential in allowing you to assess each network. Expectations are different based on where and what your networks are for, and what you are looking for.
September 9th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
In order to assess your network, you must first decide what you use your network for. We need to base our network on what we plan to accomplish from its use.