#BYOD4L Day 1: Connecting, connections, and just a little bit of mild panic
Day one of the BYOD4L short course (we’re still discussing this: is it a short course, a course, a learning ecology? One thing we’re certain on … it’s certainly not a MOOC!) has been and gone. Well done everyone who engaged and ‘connected’ with the theme of connection.
Unfortunately, I didn’t. Part of me was busy and being pulled in different directions during the evening, and part of me was terrified of what I’d gotten myself into. A twitter chat is not for the feint of heart as it can be a full-on stressful and powerful thing (I’ve tried a few before and found myself overwhelmed and confused). I dipped in at various points and noted the quality and diversity of participation and participants, I looked at the Twitter map (thanks to Martin Hawksey again!) and was impressed at the variety of locations people were engaging and connecting from: well done!
Twitter Map
I can see that tonight, when it’s my turn to lead and facilitate the chat (communication), I’m going to have my work cut out. I’m not doing it alone, I have the lovely Katherine Jensen to keep me company (and sane). Well both be active in Facebook, Google+ community, Twitter, and reading as many blog posts (and other submissions that come in from other social spaces) as I can.
Please use #BYOD4Lchat in response to the topic and the questions we’ll be posting tonight (8-9pm, using the @melsiguk account). See you later.
I think that the point you make about twitter chats being confusing is very valid; a colleague pointed that out yesterday, adding the additional confusion for someone who’s dyslexic. https://twitter.com/richboakes/status/427915939049259008
I wonder how we should go about supporting those students in chats?
Ideally yes we should, but how? Anyone?
I share your mild panic David :) – but I am really quite reassured by the many contributions from everyone taking part and impressed with the conversations I saw so maybe we don’t have so much to worry about…
I am always aprehensive about something I’ve not been able to test fully before standing up in public. Thanks for the vote of confidence, we’ll be fine :)
P.S. The comment box, (on Chrome/Mac OSx) is disappearing under the side bar … not sure if it’s the browser or what. I have tried reducing the width of the page, but all that happens is that the side bar continues to float over the comment box, until a certain width when the side bar goes.
Yeah, rubbish isn’t it :(
You’ve changed the template :) Works as expected now :) :)
Much better now isn’t it! Thanks for the contact.
YOu will be fine David. Are there ways to make a Twitterchat more manageable? I am wondering. I didn’t feel stressed at all for some reason. I didn’t try to follow all conversations. Just found some hooks and then connected with a few people. When you are at a party, do you dance with all? Some people don’t even dance when at the party but still find it an enjoyfull experience. Let me know what you think about this option.
Chrissi
Thanks Chrissi, feeling better and confident about it since writing this, thanks :)
Great! Be positive and relax into what you do! Then you will enjoy it more ;) Chrissi
I think that’s where it links to the point that Rich made, that if you’re dyslexic, it takes time to work out which threads you want to follow & which to ignore. How you manage, as David says, is a challenge.
Jordan from Quantum 7 here. There are plenty of tools to make it manageable. One that I use all the time to summarize it at the end
is Storify. Amazing tool and easy to use.
I think that Rich was thinking about simplification during, rather than after the chat. Would storify do that? What other tools do you recommend?