I’ve just stumbled across this blog – Technology for Communities. It’s the combined project of Etienne Wenger, John D Smith and Nancy While – all influential in the online communities of practice space.
It looks like the blog is working towards the publication of a book called Digital Habitats: Stewarding Technology for Communities.
I’ve come across this idea of the ‘stewardship’ of communities before in Wenger’s article Knowledge management as a doughnut: Shaping your knowledge strategy through communities of practice. A highly memorable article title and a piece of writing that I’ve returned to time and time again as a touchstone for understanding communities and knowledge management. Don’t leave home without it.
Back to the blog though, and I’m really struck by this post on the Community Orientation Spidergram Activity. Wenger and pals have categorised nine patterns of activity in a community and wrapped them into an activity. The activity can help you to analyse your community’s behaviour so you can focus your stewardship activities, identify which tools and processes you might need to support your community, or plan for the future of your community or reflect on the past.
They’ve also released a chapter of the upcoming book. It’s a very comprehensive ‘action notebook’. With checklists, tables and questions, it takes you through the steps of stewarding technology and outlines what to keep in mind at each step. Could be handy if you’re really starting from the beginning – keen to use social media but not sure why or what.
Hi Sarah – I’m glad you found the materials useful. I’d love to hear more stories of the spidergram in use. I’ve posted a few more on my site and on Slideshare.net
As to the book, we are working on the last bits now – cover and index. Hopefully it will be listed on Amazon by the end of the month and available in August.
Nancy White’s last blog post..4 Meta Skills for Learning Professionals
Thanks for the positive mention, Sarah. I think you hit on a key element with the word “pals”. Working for 5 years on a project like this is a labor that requires a lot of good comradeship along the way.
I’m wondering whether you think the Action Notebook is useful for ongoing stewardship?
Hi Nancy and John,
Thanks for your comments. I’m looking forward to some more reading on your blog, Nancy, not to mention ordering a copy of the book :-) I may use the spidergram with a client in the near future – I’ll let you know how it goes if they are comfortable with that.
That’s a good question, John, and I’ve gone back to your chapter for a closer look. The chapter’s an absolute gem. In terms of value for ongoing stewardship – absolutely. The bits that resonated the most for me are ‘about the work of stewarding’, the ‘lifecycle’ and the ‘orientations’.
I set up an online community earlier this year (elearningresearchnetwork.ning.com). Just jumped in, really, with a free tool and the support of a few colleagues and friends. I think the sections I’ve mentioned are essential to return to for ongoing stewardship because, as you say, communities have lifecycles. The orientations might change over time and stewardship must also surely change as orientations change and the lifecycle, well, cycles.
I guess there could also be an element of reviewing the acquisition strategy/technology solution in step 2? Necessary because ‘the interplay between technology and community evolution is truly a mutual process’.
I think your readers will be able to use the chapter in this way.
The other thing I really like about the chapter is the balance it strikes between helping you know where you’re going and what you want with a generous allowance for experimentation, evolution and ‘messing with technology’.
A question for you, if you don’t mind – would you be able to recommend an online course or community for stewards? Thanks again –
Sarah
Sarah’s last blog post – Stewarding communities of practice