I started to take a look at Facebook as a way that we could help to establish some improved feeling of connection between TA groups as well as a cohort program. I’m also wondering if the Facebook API can’t be used to create a stripped down version of the main site that will in a useful way (because the main site of Facebook makes absolutely no sense as to where and why elements of the UI are located where they are). But then looking at it, I started noticing that the really cool part of it (why so many people like it) is that you can connect with people from your past. Notes are exchanged and bonds are formed anew. But my question is … couldn’t this happen over email?
I’m thinking that the bonus that Facebook has is the face. If we see a picture of our long lost friend, then we know who that is and for good or bad, memories start coming back and you can start a conversation as you have some manner of connection in place already. If you get an email out of the blue from someone, without the face, you might just as well have gotten spam because you have no reason to trust the connection that the sender is attempting to create.
I think it’s the fact that there was a face to face interaction before the online interaction occurred is the key to the success of Facebook. The trick is then being motivated enough to send messages back and forth. This is what many cohort groups rely on now when they have face to face sessions before they start their elearning experience.
What really boggles my mind is that it’s also very successful for facilitating communication between individuals who are geographically close (this is why I think it might be helpful for cohorts). But why?
My guess is that it’s because it offers just enough webby-ness to allow people to create and post content with very little knowledge and all in a place where everyone else comes to do this as well. This is the same as MySpace and the rest, but I think the advantage on Facebook is that it’s so very basic and isn’t going for Flash as of yet – and it’s got lost of 25-35 year olds as opposed to teens on other sites.
So why aren’t wikis or blogs having the same success? I think it’s because people are lazy. For blogs and the like, people need to know many URLs, and even though RSS lets those of us geeky enough to use them use a single point to catch up with our friends, it’s still too much for many out there… so a social site is then obviously preferable.
Just some thoughts… any other ideas out there?
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