‘Online’, ‘community’ and ‘network’ have become common terms especially in relation to the internet and wireless communication. Communities have traditionally been defined as social a group bound by a common purpose or characteristic and usually within a geographical location. With better communication over distances, online communities are not defined restricted by location, culture, race, etc.
A network, on the other hand, is more like the structure that keeps people in touch. Networks are much looser and people don’t necessarily have to interact with each other. On the internet, it can be a tool used to connect people whether they have anything in common or not; so a community may be more homogeneous than a network of people.
I’ve been invited to a group on Yahoo! for the purpose of updating each other and sharing our ideas. There was an administrator for the group but did not really function as a facilitator. Eventually, posts have dwindled and the group members have signed up in other networks.
The Salmon model has given me a good idea about the process individuals and groups go through when communicating online. It wouldn’t have occurred to me and this can help me plan and organize the online courses that I want to develop. Most of our partners may have to be guided, too, with communicating online beyond using e-mail, Skype or Facebook. This is a relatively new concept of learning here because we’re used to the traditional seminar lectures and I realize the relevance of having activities prior to the actual online facilitation to get the participants acquainted with the process. So a lot of my work would be to introduce this system to our partners and guide them through it.
While I’m still learning about online facilitation and trying to develop an online acupuncture curriculum, I’m donning all four “shoes.” It’s good to know and be part of the entire process to have a complete perspective of what’s involved and I can troubleshoot where participants are having difficulties. Eventually, I would like to focus on being an instructor, a role that I started out with.
