Communities of Practice and web logs

19-October-2005

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Using web logs to support a community of practice of Edubloggers makes perfect sense - the medium is the message. But that is a very, very different thing to using web logs to using web logs to support and develop a community of practice in the tourist sector

Wilfred Rubens TE-learning centrum: technology enhanced learning: A network of weblogs as a community of practice

Interesting article by Wilfred (and many, many thanks for providing access in two languages).

However, I have some concerns. Using web logs to support a community of practice of Edubloggers makes perfect sense - the medium is the message. But that is a very, very different thing to using web logs to using web logs to support and develop a community of practice in the tourist sector (or as we say in European english - tourist branch).

I am very doubtful that web logs - as they are currently being used - will prove a natural tool for many in that sector - or to the natural workflow and activities of people in that sector. That is not to say the web logs do not have their place - for instance for developing portfolios as part of a programme of continuing professional development or for exchanging information.

Part of the web logging game is to post regularly - I am not convinced that regular reflective writing is part of the practice of that community. This is not to say that many of the standards and social software protocols, standards and tools - now characterized as Web 2 could not be usefully and successfully developed and used. But I think we will have to be creative in how we can leverage more minimal gestures and activities which fall short of full blown blogging to develop the and support that community. In that respect it is well worth looking at geographical data - Google maps is already being used imaginatively and with some success for small guesthouses and bed and breakfasts - see for instance this map which I used to book accommodation in Cambridge. How could we use web log standards to develop communication between the bed and breakfast listed here, between the bed and breakfasts and other parts of the tourist sector and between the bed and breakfasts and potential customers?

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Graham Attwell; 19-October-2005 18:26:59; forum (1) help

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1 Good point

Indeed, it is very important to look at the "biorithm" of the branch.
See my comment.

By the way: I send a trackback.
By the way 2: Your welcom (two languages). English contributions in my weblog will be limited. It is very time consuming for me as a non-native speaker/writer to blog in English.

Wilfred Rubens, 19-October-2005 22:18:16 forum / discussion

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