Slide 1

Digital Connectedness SOLSTICE Conference Keynote Sue Beckingham | @suebecks 4-5 June 2015

Slide 2

Digital Connectedness The exponential growth of social media and the ubiquitous use of mobile technology has changed the way we communicate both socially and for many also professionally. Digital spaces have to some extent removed barriers enabling social learning that is no longer constrained geographically (spacial boundaries) or by time-zone differences (temporal boundaries). It is therefore timely to consider our digital capabilities and how these can be used to communicate and collaborate; and through interconnectedness provide opportunities for lifelong and lifewide learning that extend beyond the formal learning we are all familiar with. This talk will consider why a professional online presence is so important; the value of using social media to develop global personal learning networks; and how through open sharing with our interconnected networks it is possible to develop our scholarly practice.

Slide 3

Neither does any company. Neither does any government. We are all connected AND dependent on each other. Harold Jarche Connectedness People need to learn how to connect to new people on a regular basis. No person has all the knowledge needed to work completely alone in our connected society.

Slide 4

Social connectedness how people come together, connect and interact. Micro-level = family, friends, acquaintances Meso-level = work, closed online community Macro-level = conferences, open online community

Slide 5

Our ancient ancestors built the Library of Alexandria to gather the worlds knowledge in papyrus scrolls TODAY smartphones turn every palm into an interconnected knowledge library

Slide 6

the written word would weaken men's characters... and the abundance of books is a distraction...

Slide 7

English coffeehouses in the 17 th century

Slide 8

Video telephony in the year 2000, as imagined in 1910

Slide 9

Slide 10

The Notificator Social Networking 1935 style 'To aid persons who wish to inform friends of their whereabouts.' Image source: The Guardian

Slide 11

A futuristic utopia... An outside view... Childhood memories

Slide 12

The TRI-function reCORDER A portable sensing, computing and data communication device 'tri' referring to the device's primary functions sensing + computing + recording

Slide 13

Letters, call boxes, phone locks....

Slide 14

and even then information overload was considered an issue... What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it. Herbert Simon 1971 What information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients. Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention, and a need to allocate that attention efficiently among the overabundance of information sources that might consume it. Herbert Simon 1971

Slide 15

HOW do we connect digitally?

Slide 16

Hubspot 2012 http://www.slideshare.net/HubSpot/50-mobilefactsdeck62812

Slide 17

Smart technology growth Mary Meeker 2015 Internet Trends Report

Slide 18

Mary Meeker 2015 Internet Trends Report

Slide 19

mobile microcoordination checking the time checking where our children are eta expected time of arrival arranging to meet checking sport scores planning meals

Slide 20

perpetual connection email social media reading watching video podcasts games texting video messaging image sharing social messaging talking chat WORK SOCIAL

Slide 21

"Connectedness makes us not only connected, but also it has created an always-on society that lives in real-time where the line between the real and virtual worlds blur to the point of oneness." Brian Solis 2015

Slide 22

Networks of people are being mediated such that people are easily able to see who is connected to whom and leverage loose ties to achieve all sorts of work-related goals. Individual knowledge is often less important than being connected to the right people. Danah Boyd 2013 Networks of people are being mediated such that people are easily able to see who is connected to whom and leverage loose ties to achieve all sorts of work-related goals. Individual knowledge is often less important than being connected to the right people. Danah Boyd 2013

Slide 23

The evolution of networks from dyads... to triads... to close-knit networks... and loose-knit networks... to complex interconnected relationships

Slide 24

Complex LinkedIn network

Slide 25

diversity and creativity

Slide 26

Working cooperatively in well established teams is important for the exchange of knowledge and for understanding what others know. However... innovation... arises when new ideas, from people in different groups and communities, are brought together (Gratton, 2007)

Slide 27

Jesse Stromel (2015) http://www.hybridpedagogy.com/journal/twitter-and-the-locus-of-research/

Slide 28

Information overload?..or filter failure? Clay Shirky

Slide 29

Our attention span (8 seconds) now less than Attention spans - Microsoft that of a goldfish (9 seconds)

Slide 30

WHY do we connect digitally?

Slide 31

People around the globe mostly use digital devices for three primary purposes: relationship building/maintaining information gathering entertainment viewing/participation Purpose

Slide 32

Not so new but still relevant....

Slide 33

The Civic Long Tail Social media is creating the conditions for the emergence of a civic long tail, a mass of loosely connected, small-scale conversations, campaigns and interest groups, which might occasionally coalesce to create a mass movement. From now on, governments everywhere will have to contend and work with this civic long tail. Leadbetter 2011:10 The Civic Long Tail Social media is creating the conditions for the emergence of a civic long tail, a mass of loosely connected, small-scale conversations, campaigns and interest groups, which might occasionally coalesce to create a mass movement. From now on, governments everywhere will have to contend and work with this civic long tail. Leadbetter 2011:10

Slide 34

Digital Citizen: basic digital skills Digital Worker: intermediate digital skills Digital Maker: able to build digital technology Digital Muggle: currently requiring no digital skills "Every company is a digital company and almost every job is a digital job" Chris Mairs 2014 http://www.ukdigitalskills.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Binder7-REDUCED2.pdf

Slide 35

Assessment of digital skill level required for different jobs skills Chris Mairs 2014 46 % 10%7%

Slide 36

Nielsen 2015

Slide 37

By 2020 More than seven billion people and businesses, and at least 30 billion devices, will be connected to the Internet. With people, businesses and things communicating, transacting and even negotiating with each other, a new world comes into being the world of digital business. Gartner 2014

Slide 38

Considerations Persistence Online expressions are automatically recorded and archived Searchability Content in networked publics can be accessed through search Scalability The potential visibility of content in networked publics is great Replicability Content made out of bits can be duplicated Structural affordances of networked publics Boyd 2011:46 in A Networked Self: Identity, Community and Culture on Social Network Sites

Slide 39

Networked Participatory Scholarship The emergent practice of scholars use of participatory technologies and online social networks to share, reflect upon, critique, improve, validate and further their scholarship Veletsianos and Kimmons 2012 Networked Participatory Scholarship The emergent practice of scholars use of participatory technologies and online social networks to share, reflect upon, critique, improve, validate and further their scholarship Veletsianos and Kimmons 2012 The Digitally Connected Scholar

Slide 40

A connected curriculum Fung 2015, UCL

Slide 41

connected learning

Slide 42

"Connected learning thrives in a socially meaningful and knowledge-rich ecology of ongoing participation Online platforms can make learning resources abundant, accessible, and visible across all learner settings." The Connected Learning Research Network and Digital Media & Learning Research Hub "When the topic is personally interesting and relevant, learners achieve much higher-order learning outcomes."

Slide 43

How visible is your learning?

Slide 44

seeking sensing sharing Adapted from Jarche 2014 is how we personalize information and use it. Sensing includes reflection and putting into practice what we have learned. Often it requires experimentation, as we learn best by doing. is finding things out and keeping up to date. Building a network of colleagues is helpful in this regard. It not only allows us to pull information, but also have it pushed to us by trusted sources. Good curators are valued members of knowledge includes exchanging resources, ideas, and experiences with our networks as well as collaborating with our colleagues. Interconnected networks

Slide 45

Academic research silos be gone!.... Become more open Dr @LauraPasquini 2015 network with colleagues solicit feedback and reflect on your research and teaching reach multiple audiences cultivate your identity as a scholar become more open Openness is the practice of sharing resources and materials (e.g., syllabi, lectures, research papers) in a way that allows others to retain, reuse, revise, remix and redistribute them.

Slide 46

Welcome @EricStoller Using Social Media to Listen and Learn about UK Higher Education Getting Connected

Slide 47

#LTHEchat http://lthechat.com/http://lthechat.com/ @LTHEchat #LTHEchat

Slide 48

The Lurker to be in a hidden place : to wait in a secret or hidden place especially in order to do something wrong or harmful computers : to read messages written by other people on the Internet in a newsgroup, chat room, etc., without writing any messages yourself Vicariousness experiences or felt by watching, hearing about, or reading about someone else rather than by doing something yourself

Slide 49

Positive Silent Engagement PSE I would like to argue that positive silent engagement is not only valuable, but an essential component of digital connectedness. We learn by listening. It is no different online

Slide 50

Global digital connectedness

Slide 51

https://press.linkedin.com/about-linkedin build connections group discussions collaboration opportunities share your expertise Connectedness

Slide 52

BARRIERS to connecting digitally

Slide 53

innovators early early late laggards adopters majority majority Techies Conservatives Pragmatists Visionaries Skeptics "Let's try it" "Get ahead of the herd" "Stick with the herd" "Hold on there" "Hmm... no way"

Slide 54

Slide 55

Digital connectedness takes time, but... What you plant now you will harvest later Og Mandino

Slide 56

Why arent more people connected globally? Is it that: devices are too expensive. service plans are too expensive. mobile networks are few and far between. content isnt available in the local language. people aren't sure what value the Internet will bring. power sources are limited or costly. networks cant support large amounts of data.

Slide 57

The NOW of digital connectedness

Slide 58

The Power of Facebook in the Gihembe Refugee Camp, Rwanda The camp doesn't have electricity but people use Facebook every day. Learn more at: www.thesenumbers.orgwww.thesenumbers.org

Slide 59

http://thesenumbers.org/

Slide 60

Internet.org is a Facebook-led initiative bringing together technology leaders, non-profits and local communities to connect the two thirds of the world that doesn't have Internet access. Everyone participating in Internet.org has come together to meet this challenge because they believe in the power of a connected world.

Slide 61

Slide 62

Solar-powered high altitude, long endurance aircraft that can stay aloft for months, can be quickly deployed and deliver reliable internet connections. Connecting the world by the sky Facebook Connectivity Lab

Slide 63

https://twitter.com/internet_org Inventing the future of connectivity

Slide 64

Project Loon balloons travel approximately 20 km above the Earths surface in the stratosphere. Winds in the stratosphere are stratified, and each layer of wind varies in speed and direction. Project Loon uses software algorithms to determine where its balloons need to go, then moves each one into a layer of wind blowing in the right direction. By moving with the wind, the balloons can be arranged to form one large communications network. Google's Project Loon

Slide 65

Balloon powered internet for everyone

Slide 66

The first pilot tester to connect to balloon-powered Internet for the first time in New Zealand

Slide 67

The FUTURE of digital connectedness

Slide 68

Slide 69

Sue Beckingham | @suebecks Educational Developer with a research interest in the use of social media in education. Blog: http://socialmediaforlearning.com/ http://socialmediaforlearning.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/suebeckinghamlinkedin.com/in/suebeckingham