Comments on: So many communities … so little time. What makes a community successful? http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771 Blogging about K-8 EdTech resources for my school community & the world. Views expressed are my own, not those of the Northfield Board of Education. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:59:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Kevin Jarrett http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771&cpage=1#comment-26886 Kevin Jarrett Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:53:13 +0000 http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771#comment-26886 blairteach, thanks for commenting! Sorry for not replying sooner, I'm sorta underwater at the moment. :/ I like how you framed those questions, and how you look at the 'problem' or 'central challenge' facing the emerging community. One of the things I struggle with is being responsive to multiple stakeholder groups. How do community leaders decide which needs to address / are greatest when building a community? This is why I'm thinking a focus on the 'problem' or 'central challenge' is so critical. What do you think? -kj- blairteach, thanks for commenting! Sorry for not replying sooner, I’m sorta underwater at the moment. :/ I like how you framed those questions, and how you look at the ‘problem’ or ‘central challenge’ facing the emerging community. One of the things I struggle with is being responsive to multiple stakeholder groups. How do community leaders decide which needs to address / are greatest when building a community? This is why I’m thinking a focus on the ‘problem’ or ‘central challenge’ is so critical. What do you think? -kj-

]]> By: blairteach http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771&cpage=1#comment-26879 blairteach Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:14:21 +0000 http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771#comment-26879 I enjoyed the post and the comments. In my view, the question, "What is the problem your community is trying to solve?” synthesizes the purpose of any community, even the types referred to by Sheryl. For example, the "problem" being solved in "communities of passion, interest, place, and memory" is typically one of connection. How can one connect with others who share the passion or interest? How can one connect with others who live/work/visit a place? With "memory," the "problem" may be a little different. Perhaps, how can I archive my memories or how can I share my memories with loved ones. I agree that communities, social networks, PLCs, and PLNs have distinctive characteristics, but, at the core, your single question would certainly help guide development of any the type. I enjoyed the post and the comments. In my view, the question, “What is the problem your community is trying to solve?” synthesizes the purpose of any community, even the types referred to by Sheryl. For example, the “problem” being solved in “communities of passion, interest, place, and memory” is typically one of connection. How can one connect with others who share the passion or interest? How can one connect with others who live/work/visit a place? With “memory,” the “problem” may be a little different. Perhaps, how can I archive my memories or how can I share my memories with loved ones.
I agree that communities, social networks, PLCs, and PLNs have distinctive characteristics, but, at the core, your single question would certainly help guide development of any the type.

]]> By: Kevin Jarrett http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771&cpage=1#comment-26863 Kevin Jarrett Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:13:10 +0000 http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771#comment-26863 Michael W, you nail it here: "We, the creators, can get it started, but for it to last , we need to be able to outsource the facilitation and hopefully enable the users to drive the discussion, post the videos and links, and share the lesson plans." The question is *HOW* - what is going to motivate that already-overloaded classroom teacher to log on, join in, and become part of the community? What strategies have worked for you? Michael M, Sheryl is amazing (and I'm not just saying that because she's going to get a copy of this comment, lol) - she's earning her PhD studying this field and having her in the conversation is like writing about manufacturing quality and having W. Edwards Deming or Malcolm Baldridge weigh in. She'll dispute the extent of that analogy, but it's how I feel, after having worked with her (and Will Richardson) directly and indirectly for years. Your Cape May Schools Ning (http://capemaycountyschools.ning.com/) was part of the inspiration for this post, as you might have guessed. I applaud your leadership and vision by getting the community started - the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step - and you are clearly doing everything you can to get it going. Things are starting to come together! We really need to meet for those appetizers at Ventura's! -kj- Michael W, you nail it here:

“We, the creators, can get it started, but for it to last , we need to be able to outsource the facilitation and hopefully enable the users to drive the discussion, post the videos and links, and share the lesson plans.”

The question is *HOW* – what is going to motivate that already-overloaded classroom teacher to log on, join in, and become part of the community? What strategies have worked for you?

Michael M, Sheryl is amazing (and I’m not just saying that because she’s going to get a copy of this comment, lol) – she’s earning her PhD studying this field and having her in the conversation is like writing about manufacturing quality and having W. Edwards Deming or Malcolm Baldridge weigh in. She’ll dispute the extent of that analogy, but it’s how I feel, after having worked with her (and Will Richardson) directly and indirectly for years.

Your Cape May Schools Ning (http://capemaycountyschools.ning.com/) was part of the inspiration for this post, as you might have guessed. I applaud your leadership and vision by getting the community started – the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step – and you are clearly doing everything you can to get it going. Things are starting to come together! We really need to meet for those appetizers at Ventura’s!

-kj-

]]> By: Michael McKnight http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771&cpage=1#comment-26855 Michael McKnight Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:23:30 +0000 http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771#comment-26855 Hi Kevin... hope this finds you well. Very cool discussion and comments. Great information....and visuals.... thanks very helpful as i play with creation of extending community on-line. Although i have only read Sheryl's blog and interacted with her on the Fireside ning i think her ideas broaden the possibilities. As i consider the components of on-line "community" i find myself attempting to think about the same needs that i think about with community building "on the ground" ....face to face. Those needs in my head: CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGINGS CREATING AND EXTENDING MASTERY CREATING AND EXTENDING INDEPENDENCE CREATING AND EXTENDING GENEROSITY For me...these needs are the soil of growing community.... I am having fun.... playing with extending that to on-line environments.... Thanks for your thinking and examples....keep at it.... we can all learn and "steal" from one another.... be well....... mike Hi Kevin… hope this finds you well.

Very cool discussion and comments.

Great information….and visuals…. thanks very helpful as i play with creation of extending community on-line.

Although i have only read Sheryl’s blog and interacted with her on the Fireside ning i think her ideas broaden the possibilities.

As i consider the components of on-line “community” i find myself attempting to think about the same needs that i think about with community building “on the ground” ….face to face.
Those needs in my head:

CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGINGS
CREATING AND EXTENDING MASTERY
CREATING AND EXTENDING INDEPENDENCE
CREATING AND EXTENDING GENEROSITY

For me…these needs are the soil of growing community….

I am having fun…. playing with extending that to on-line environments….

Thanks for your thinking and examples….keep at it…. we can all learn and “steal” from one another….

be well……. mike

]]> By: Michael Wacker http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771&cpage=1#comment-26854 Michael Wacker Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:54:36 +0000 http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771#comment-26854 Great post, I think many of us get so excited in creating these communities that we don't understand why we don't see the interaction of our network reflected in the communities. They really are two different animals, but that isn't the initial thinking or hope sometimes when we create them. I sat with some really smart people today and talked about this subject. My thoughts are that a community or PLC specifically needs to feel relevant, useful, and it needs those "sticky" features. Documents linking benchmarks, standards and lessons are a must. Tutorials on how to do what we want to do in our classrooms, and people leading and facilitating asking the right questions, and probing for participation. We, the creators, can get it started, but for it to last , we need to be able to outsource the facilitation and hopefully enable the users to drive the discussion, post the videos and links, and share the lesson plans. When teachers can share and reflect with each other a trust is formed, it makes it easier to ask, and expect feedback, and a revision. Thanks for this, great stuff as usual. Great post, I think many of us get so excited in creating these communities that we don’t understand why we don’t see the interaction of our network reflected in the communities. They really are two different animals, but that isn’t the initial thinking or hope sometimes when we create them.
I sat with some really smart people today and talked about this subject.
My thoughts are that a community or PLC specifically needs to feel relevant, useful, and it needs those “sticky” features. Documents linking benchmarks, standards and lessons are a must. Tutorials on how to do what we want to do in our classrooms, and people leading and facilitating asking the right questions, and probing for participation.
We, the creators, can get it started, but for it to last , we need to be able to outsource the facilitation and hopefully enable the users to drive the discussion, post the videos and links, and share the lesson plans. When teachers can share and reflect with each other a trust is formed, it makes it easier to ask, and expect feedback, and a revision.
Thanks for this, great stuff as usual.

]]> By: Kevin Jarrett http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771&cpage=1#comment-26853 Kevin Jarrett Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:03:23 +0000 http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771#comment-26853 Hi Sheryl, That's the kindest, gentlest bitch-slap I've ever received! :) (I feel comfortable saying that because we've known each other for so long.) So let me ask this: how would you characterize the community I'm proposing to create for the New Jersey Professional Learning Communities Lab Schools group? This group's work will be largely done (I believe) within a year's time. Not sure what formal ties will continue past that, but I'm hopeful. Some (hopefully) relevant additional links: http://mikeparent.blogspot.com/2009/09/were-plc-lab-school.html http://www.wyckoffps.org/wps/lib/wps/plclabschool.pdf http://wyckoff.patch.com/articles/teachers-focus-on-their-own-education http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2009/08/woodstown_middle_school_chosen.html http://web.me.com/khonnick/HMS_Movin_On_Up/Welcome.html (warning: page plays audio upon loading, fans of early 1980s television will appreciate the tune) -kj- Hi Sheryl,

That’s the kindest, gentlest bitch-slap I’ve ever received! :) (I feel comfortable saying that because we’ve known each other for so long.)

So let me ask this: how would you characterize the community I’m proposing to create for the New Jersey Professional Learning Communities Lab Schools group? This group’s work will be largely done (I believe) within a year’s time. Not sure what formal ties will continue past that, but I’m hopeful.

Some (hopefully) relevant additional links:

http://mikeparent.blogspot.com/2009/09/were-plc-lab-school.html

http://www.wyckoffps.org/wps/lib/wps/plclabschool.pdf

http://wyckoff.patch.com/articles/teachers-focus-on-their-own-education

http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2009/08/woodstown_middle_school_chosen.html

http://web.me.com/khonnick/HMS_Movin_On_Up/Welcome.html (warning: page plays audio upon loading, fans of early 1980s television will appreciate the tune)

-kj-

]]> By: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771&cpage=1#comment-26851 Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:36:54 +0000 http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4771#comment-26851 Great post and synthesis of information. From my 10 years of creating, leading and implementing communities I see one problem with the way you have laid your information out. The information treats: Communities Social Networks Personal Learning Networks and Professional Learning Communities as one concept. They actually are all very distinct and have different literacies and strategies that go into their success. I do think this is an important concept -- "To me, anyone creating (or managing) a community has to answer this question: What is the problem your community is trying to solve?" But communities are not always about solving problems. PLCs are-- because in their traditional form they tend to be task oriented. Communities of passion, interest, place, and memory are not usually about problem solving, in fact they are often about considering possibilities and giftings of the members. I appreciate your post though. It is a great start to thinking about these concepts and I look forward to reading more as we all try and figure it out together. Great post and synthesis of information. From my 10 years of creating, leading and implementing communities I see one problem with the way you have laid your information out. The information treats:

Communities
Social Networks
Personal Learning Networks
and Professional Learning Communities as one concept.

They actually are all very distinct and have different literacies and strategies that go into their success.

I do think this is an important concept — “To me, anyone creating (or managing) a community has to answer this question:

What is the problem your community is trying to solve?”

But communities are not always about solving problems. PLCs are– because in their traditional form they tend to be task oriented. Communities of passion, interest, place, and memory are not usually about problem solving, in fact they are often about considering possibilities and giftings of the members.

I appreciate your post though. It is a great start to thinking about these concepts and I look forward to reading more as we all try and figure it out together.

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