The DPG Community will be 2 yrs old in July and in this time it's been so interesting seeing how different people interact with this community of practice (which is a social network).
Like any new tool or technology it can be overwhelming at first and I'll be the first to admit there is A LOT of content on the home page and it takes a little time to find your way around. It's something we're looking at for the next version.
However like anything, the more you use something the easier it gets and if you choose to engage with the community and use it to it's full potential then you'll be up to speed in no time and you will have such a different experience than if you choose not to engage.
So what makes someone engage and get involved in group discussions or blogs, posting videos and links and sharing what they are doing for others to learn from?
On the other hand what makes someone not want to engage (even though the benefits are there to see)?
I'm fascinated by human behaviour, especially in such a connected world where social tools have redefined and redesigned how we communicate globally.
Is it confidence, trust, nervousness, anxiety, privacy concerns........what stops someone uploading a profile picture? Even any sort of picture to put some sort of identity on their profile.
We of course have the 'Top Collaborators' so you can see who does contribute on a regular basis and I wonder what makes these people contribute where others don't and why.
There is a 'rule' around social networks/communities that is called the 90/9/1 rule.
Its means
- 90% of people will lurk and read
- 9% will contribute and get involved at times
- 1% will generate most content - the 'power user'
It's interesting as applying this rule to this community you can see that this is kind of the case....we have a lot of people in the community (2227) but still a relatively small number of people who get involved in the main area and continually contribute.
Joss Anderson sent me something earlier today that made me think of this and is why I'm posting it is in this context as I think your social media personality is linked to using tools like the DPG Community.
So let's find out - take a look at the picture below (click to enlarge it) and take a look at the different types of personality. Simple question, which one are you?
Replies
In my opinion, people's involvement with social media goes beyond first expectations:
I would see a learning community much more like a library: you go into one each time you look for information about something, when you want to see what others think about one particular topic etc. An interactive library where knowledge sharing and gathering are the main purposes.
I like the knowledge & information library analogy Sorina :)
I totally agree with your bit about participating if they can add some value. I think that is such an important part, i know myself that if I haven't had experience of a particular topic I'm more reluctant to contribute as I don't feel what I'd have to say would be particularly valuable.
I think I would fall mostly into the Social Lurker category with a splash of number 4 and 8. I am definitely one to read far more than I actually post.
To answer your original question I think the reason I personally haven't posted often in the past, not only here but on social media in general, is mainly fear! This is the first time I have ever joined a professional community where I believe that difference in opinions is welcome. I am far more used to social media sites and chats where any opinion can be 'trolled' and heaven help you if you misspell or forget an apostrophe!
This is certainly an interesting topic to overcome my fear on!
Great stuff Victoria, fantastic to see you move from lurker to active participant. I replied to Jill with some additional stuff around this. I hear what you're saying about trolls but this is certainly a safe environment to get involved and there is no hierarchy or people to pull you up on poor speling......we're all human at the end of the day and within this community we respect each other and nurture and encourage :-)
Good work on overcoming your fear Victoria :)
Think it's safe to say that opinions are welcome on this community, it's a "safe space"
Totally agree and I understand the 'fear' element of participating for the first time in a community such as this. I experienced this myself when I first 'cut my teeth' on a community called the Learning Skills Group a number of years ago.
I blogged about 'the slope of enlightenment', how my journey started from lurking to developing communities such as the DPG Community. We all start at a given place whether this be lurking, reading or hiding and as we begin to participate our confidence increases as we realise that actually it isn't THAT bigger deal....
There is nothing wrong with lurking as it's a way to learn and gather new information however the true value in being part of a community such as this is active participation. Either by sharing things, getting involved in discussions, writing or commenting on blogs, adding / commenting on videos etc etc
This is where learning goes up a notch as through active participation and interacting with people and new ideas your brain starts to reflect more and it needs to think through problems and involve itself in conversation. It's how we innovate and become more creative and ultimately can play a big part in how we develop professionally and personally.
Making the jump from lurker to active participate can be a big one but once you've done it you'll never look back.
Mike
I want to be a social inspirer and visionary.
My experience on the DPG site inspires me and I the whole social media world is fascinating me with my current learning. I will certainly championing this style of working the future organisations I work with and for.
I will be checking my traditional psychometric tests to see if I am a needy social media person to check for likes and feedback!
Great poster Mike thanks
Gary
It's great to hear you are feeling inspired Gary and I'm sure you are already an inspirer and visionary. My own outlook on learning & social changed a number of years ago and it's such a different approach to training & classroom which so many organisations still adopt as their strategy.
Whilst it is of course great to get 'likes' and replies the actual act of writing a discussion or writing a blog can help with your thinking and critical reflection to help sort out and in some cases detangle your thought process on a topic. It's certainly not about popularity but about context, relevance and content. If you create value for others then they will interact and participate and vice versa.
Using tools such as this is very much about culture and behaviours and whilst some people that I talk too are still hung up on the tools and technologies there are some who get that the technology is purely an enabler. You can have the best technology and social infrastructure but without a strong social ethos / sharing culture behind it and indeed social people willing to share it will always remain a piece of software or technology.
I'd be keen on hearing how you get on championing this approach with other organisations.
I love it! Thanks for sharing; you must be a social athlete Mike!
Glad you like it Kathleen.....I think at times yes I can demonstrate the traits of 'the athlete' but it's interesting as I think my use of social media (including this community) has evolved over time. My habits using social media have definitely changed - I am not such a big Twitter sharer anymore but in the first year or 2 of using the platform I was sharing a hell of a lot and perhaps bordering on spammy....(I would say useful stuff though)....
I use LinkedIn, Google + and Twitter for professional development and in all honesty I'm not a BIG Facebook fan.....it's interesting using all these platforms for different reasons but then taking the best bits from them and trying to make this community more user friendly, interesting and value add.
Which do you think you are?
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next