Navigating Life 2.0

Although I have been interested in 2.o for sometime. I have been a very passive participant. Always taking, never giving. I have read article after article about developing a digital footprint but mine remained small. That's over. This winter break I began visiting graduate schools looking for applicable degrees in Library and Information Science, and Informatics. I am currently focused on the HCI program at IUPUI, spearheaded by Anthony Faiola. \

This weekend I stumbled upon a great starting point for building a digital footprint for my interests but it could be applied to any field. I'm approaching it a checklist. You can find the whole blog here.

So, here are some ways to build a learning network if you want one:

1. Read a few blogs. Pick four blogs. Read them, and make a comment fairly often. Part of the idea here is conversation with others.

2. Create your own site that people can visit. A blog, a wiki, a website–so when you post on their blog, they can see who you are, and what your work or interests are.

3. Join a network, like Classroom 2.0 Ning, or Global Education Ning or Teacher Librarian Ning or Librarian 2.0 Ning. It’s a great way to find out projects other people are starting and join them. Those are also great places to post a question or to ask someone to join a project you want to do.

4. Join a network that has to do with your outside interests–visit a knitting blog or a football blog or a travel blog and post comments there.

5. Join a site like Twitter. The thing about twitter is–you can’t just join it and sit there if you want to get the power of it. Join Twitter, search for 4 twittees that are educators, librarians, biology teachers–whatever your area of interest is. Or pick names you recognize from blogs. (There is a search box in the twitter page.) Click on the “find and and invite” button. It may feel strange at first to invite people you don’t know at all to network with you, but it’s a first step. And if you don’t like it, you can always uninvite someone.

6. If you join twitter, you have to post to it once in awhile. You can post links to a good website, briefly describe a library project you are doing, etc.

7. Attend small conferences. Smaller conferences are a good way to meet and network with people that share your interests. After the conference, make it a point to contact one person you met and exchange an idea.

8. Join a site like Facebook–if you are a librarian, look for libraries on Facebook. Great way to see what students use and also meet people.

Notice the common thread here in all of these is that you have to “put something out there” to get something back of value. But that’s how all of our relationships are–they are two way.

So here I am . Too stay. Right now . I'm working on my blog. Next will be a wiki. There is a conference at UCLA at the end of February. Any help would be appreciated.