For my second to final class, I'm taking INF506 which is Social Networking for Information Professionals. I feel like I've already jumped in headfirst to this topic last week when I participated in the Library 2.0 conference. That conference really gave me a sense of how important social networking tools are to our professional development. The fact that some of my most meaningful learning actually came from a conference of other professionals rather than from formal university instruction (sorry CSU... no offense) confirmed for me that we learn best when the content is relevant and well-timed. Plus, in this industry that is changing so rapidly, we must learn from those that are the most innovative and passionate about these topics. It's so important to share!
Anyway, my point in this blog post was to just mention how we are using Facebook as the main communication platform for this subject rather than CSU's Interact. I have to say, I love it already. I'm already in Facebook. I know it fairly well. It's nice that my coursework is actually a group within Facebook. Plus, I get quick updates when new people post into the user group. However, one of the things I've found most compelling about this temporary switch is that in only a couple of days in this subject (on Facebook) I feel like I already got to know some of my classmates. This is so much more than I ever experienced in taking six subjects at CSU using the Interact system. Using Facebook is so much more personal, even with just the use of profile pictures. I can not only "see" who I am talking to, but I can see the whole thread of the conversations are laid out in a more useful way than the Interact forums (I'm not a big fan of Interact). I finally feel (after six subject) that I am part of a group.
Anyway, my point in this blog post was to just mention how we are using Facebook as the main communication platform for this subject rather than CSU's Interact. I have to say, I love it already. I'm already in Facebook. I know it fairly well. It's nice that my coursework is actually a group within Facebook. Plus, I get quick updates when new people post into the user group. However, one of the things I've found most compelling about this temporary switch is that in only a couple of days in this subject (on Facebook) I feel like I already got to know some of my classmates. This is so much more than I ever experienced in taking six subjects at CSU using the Interact system. Using Facebook is so much more personal, even with just the use of profile pictures. I can not only "see" who I am talking to, but I can see the whole thread of the conversations are laid out in a more useful way than the Interact forums (I'm not a big fan of Interact). I finally feel (after six subject) that I am part of a group.
