looking forward

“Lead by example”.

 “Do as I say, not as I do”.

We’ve heard these quotes a thousand times and as much as we aspire to the former, how often do we fall into the category of the latter?

A large proportion of people that I have trained have commented on how terrified they were when they had to perform in the role for real: the gap between simulation and reality is vast. The advice given in each case is to remember that fear, not to fall victim to it, but to remember it.

One of the harshest accusations levelled against experienced staff and supervisors is that they cannot empathise with new staff: they have forgotten what new staff are going through. In essence, they have forgotten where they came from.

I make no secret of the fact that I am new to a lot of these ‘new’ social networking tools: up until a few months ago, I had only the vaguest idea of what web 2.0 referred to. I am in the same situation as those trainees: it’s a big world out there and I had no idea just how big it was.

In response to an earlier post, Sue made the comment that “the good aspect of extending ourselves is to remember how confront[ed] we feel when we do this – so that we can relate to how our learners might feel.“

Can we ask that our trainees/students utilise tools that we ourselves are too afraid or self-conscious to use and actively demonstrate?

Now that would be poor practice.

At least for the moment, its easy for me to remember where I came from: right here, right now, and the view is glorious.

Lat night I was lucky enough to have dinner with Sue Waters and Annelieske Noteboom from Challenger TAFE in WA.  Sue is the driving force behind the Mobile Technology in TAFE blog site and was graciuos enough to allow me to join them on their last night in Melbourne.  The evening was great, with conversation ranging from trends in e-learning to Sue’s total incomprehension of hook turns in Melbourne (she just could not get her head around the concept of moving to the left lane to turn right – how can that be hard?).

Anyway, after dinner, I was invited take a look at, and particiate in a ustream broadcast.  For those who are unaware of this program, it broadcasts steaming video from your webcam to your audience, who interact via a chat system. 

Its very cool, but also quite surreal: you’re sitting there looking at yourself on camera, talking to your computer, reading what people are typing, all the while trying to look ohh so natural.  Well, that’s the theory.  If you are me, you’re sitting there looking at yourself on camera, talking to Sue’s compter, reading what people are typing, all the while with a goofy grin on your face feeling ohh so self conscious, wondering how the hell you got there?  Think back to my previous entry :  I am not the type of person to be in front of the camera; I am the camera man or director or the coffee boy – anything that is BEHIND the camera.

I cannot think of anytime that I have felt that uncomfortable or self conscious – I think it was worse than the first time that I stood in front of a classroom.  I humbly apologise to anyone who was subjected to my stumbling efforts.

On the way home, I was ready to discount the value of this tool – embarassment will do that to you.  But I have been thinking about it today (even went to the saved file, but couldn’t bring myself to watch it; the cringe factor was too high  - maybe tonight, or tomorrow, or ……..).  For those involved in distance education, this could be amazing (assuming of course an active broadband connection).  I know there are other programs out there that allow similar interaction, but this was the first that I had seen.  It is impressive technology.

Give it a look and if you’re brave enough, give it a try.  And to those who were subjected to last night’s performance – sorry.

I was following a thread on the Edna Groups boards a little while back where there was some robust discussion around those who follow discussion but do not interact or get involved. Yes, that dreaded and much feared creature: the “Lurker”.

Now, before I go any further, can I please emphasise that I am not talking about any particular person/persons /forum/community/ message board/etc. No offence is intended to any person and no accusation is being levelled.

Anyway, with that said, a good point was raised in that if we were to be sitting in a classroom and a student failed to engage and get involved would we consider the class to have been a success? Now, I say this was a good point, but it does miss one crucial point – does lack of interaction instantly translate to lack of engagement? I speak from personal experience when I say “Not at all”. I was (and still am) one of those who, while very interested in what is going on around me, will still prefer to observe and take it all in. Call it what you will: natural reticence, introversion, lack of confidence, whatever; the fact remains that I am engaged, without having to jump in every five seconds. Have you ever been in a session or meeting where there was that one person who constantly had to have their say, regardless of its relevance? Now that person is involved, but are they engaged? That is a matter for debate.

Mike Reed’s Flame Warriors defines the Lurker as follows:

Lurker does not participate in normal forum discourse, but he’s out there…watching, reading every message. He is usually quite harmless, and more often than not his silence reflects a natural reticence rather than sinister motives. If a fight breaks out he will quietly observe to avoid revealing his position. Occasionally, however, some mysterious impulse drives him to de-lurk and attack. This totally unexpected assault is universally regarded as an ambush, and other Warriors will turn on him savagely. Lurker seldom sticks around to fight it out, however, and after a brief exchange, he once again slips out of sight.

So why is it that some people are threatened by the Lurker? Is it the lack of adulation for their brilliance? (It is hard to bask in the glory of their praise if you’re not sure that they are there). Or is it the age old story that the extrovert can never understand the introvert?

One of the reasons we visit boards and forums is gather new knowledge and learn at the feet of the sages; and its amazing how much can be learned just by reading a post. In other cases, a forum can be quite intimidating to step into: there is a sense of community that can be hard or daunting to break into, especially if those who speak loudest (or the most) are perceived as intolerant, condescending or just plain rude. This can have a seriously detrimental affect on those who are hovering on the outskirts.

I have been visiting discussion boards and forums for many years now and have to admit, I am guilty of this. I say it loud and say it proud: I am (or have been … no, am) a Lurker! What got me going on this train of thought today was that I noticed the numbers under my picture in my profile: Discussions (20). I had to go and take a closer look at that one. Twenty posts in a month? It didn’t seem possible (I have been a member of some boards for months or years without posting that much!).

So what has changed? Honestly? Nothing. It turns out, the secret is to actually have something to say, a question to ask, or a point to make (in my case it was question to ask … and then another one … and another one … and another one …and another one … ). If not for that, I would still be lurking away happily in my shadows, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I would be much happier sitting in the shadows than jumping up and down screaming “Look at me!! Over here!! Look, I’m doing something interesting!” (Please refer to my earlier disclaimer – I am talking in generalisations here)

So, if you are one of those who think that there is something “suspect” about the Lurker – back off and leave them alone, they’re doing fine, and if you leave them alone, who knows, they may just creep out and ask you a question or teach you something.

On the other hand, if you are one of the Brethren of Lurkers, rest assured, you are not alone. Say it loud and say it proud brothers and sisters, “I am a Lurker!” (but not too loud – someone might hear you).

Well, here I am again, less than 24 hours later. Who would have guessed?

Actually, this was going to be part of a reply to a comment that Sue left on my first post, but after it started to get a bit long I thought to myself, “What I really need is a way to expand on all of these thoughts that are running through my head. Something that would allow me to express what I am thinking in an introspective, yet public manner.” But where was I to find such a forum?

Yes, you’ve probably guessed where I’m heading with this, but hey! Run with me here people. I’m discovering a new medium (don’t remind me that I’m any number of years behind your average 14 year old).

Anyway, enough of the silliness and to the point. In a reply to my first post, Sue made the comment “It was only when I started blogging in April this year I realised why I should blog”. This has got me thinking/wondering. How many opportunities have we missed just because we dismissed something as being irrelevant or unnecessary? As discussed yesterday, I know I am guilty of this.

In the immortal words of Pepe Le Pew,

“until you have tried it, do not knock it”. It’s easy to stand on the outside and pick holes in something, but for a truly valid opinion you need to have at least peeked inside. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I’m a convert, but at least I am exploring.

After all … what’s the worst that could happen?

So, here I am. Writing a Blog entry.

I hear deep breathing and an ominous, gasping voice whispering to me, “Welcome to the Dark Side”.

I have never written a blog and have spent very little time even looking at them. To my mind I couldn’t disassociate blogs from the concept of adolescent diaries, full of teenage angst ranting against the unfairness of it all… “Its, like, you know, like, so totally unfair” or those ranting and raving against the system; hollow revolutionaries whose only defence against “the system” is to quote, with predictable pseudo-intellectual fervour, the words of greater minds who have gone before.

OK, so I’m exaggerating a little here, and being quite unfair – I am aware of this, but until recently I could see no real practical educational use for this process. The reality was that I viewed blogs as online diaries, and I have never fancied the concept of reading other people’s diaries (let’s be honest – for the most part they’re a case of “Dear Diary today I did this and then I did that. … blah blah blah … snore). What little I had seen of blogs previously pretty much confirmed my view.

The I began looking over some of the blogs available through here and edna, I have come to lessen my stance somewhat – only somewhat mind you (pride does dictate). Some of what I have delved into has confirmed my former suspicions. And some opened a new world of potential; perhaps there is something to this blogging thing after all. The mind has been ticking over as to how we can incorporate these into some of our training practices and there are some very distinct possibilities.

I can admit when I am wrong: one prejudice overcome. Who knows, maybe there may even be a follow-up post to this one. And if we are really lucky, it may even have some substance, rather that being just a rant.

Life is just sooo unfair!