The news media hypes the latest hot social app — MySpace, Facebook, blogging and now Twitter. So people decide to give it a try — it doesn’t work for them — they leave. Any big surprises here? The fact that the vast number of blogs haven’t recently been updated, or that only 10 percent of registered twitter users are active doesn’t reflect on either the apps or the users. But it may be a useful thought to keep in mind when trying to integrate a social media app into the classroom or workplace. Mind you not a justification to not try something new. I do suggest keeping implementation quick, low cost, and be prepared to react quickly to user reactions and changing technologies.
It is also important to not get hung up on name brands or caught up in the hype. The use of technology should be driven by a need, not the other way around. What would you like to accomplish in the classroom now that you currently can’t? Define the need, decide what success will look like, then find a technology that will get you from the need to success.
When the Thrill of Blogging Is Gone … – NYTimes.com
According to a 2008 survey by Technorati, which runs a search engine for blogs, only 7.4 million out of the 133 million blogs the company tracks had been updated in the past 120 days.
Internet Evolution – Editor’s Blog – Most Tweeters Don’t Actually Tweet
For all of those focused on mastering the art of Twitter, thinking it an entryway into the hearts and minds of all the world’s consumers — think again: The majority of Twitter’s traffic and content is created by just 10 percent of its users.
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Randall Rode's online home for thoughts, notes, and experiments with a wide range of technology topics. Visit the about page for info on my recent projects and professional background. I welcome your comments!
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