We are all experts

Ode Magazine's 10 emerging trends list got me thinking about the changing face of education in an information saturated world.

Anyone can do anything. Want to grow orchids? No need to consult a botanist. Just get information on the Internet, order the seeds online and become an orchid specialist. Want to be a composer? Buy the software and you’re off. Everyone is an artist. Everyone is an entrepreneur.

Sure, everyone has access to the information on how to do something but can they do it well? Where does hands-on tutelage fit? Isn't learning in groups more effective and fun? Networked knowledge + social software + learning community = a better way for us to learn. This equation is something I am working my way through as it seems a natural direction given what I have learned building an online learning community at BGI.

Finding my voice

I have come to accept that in order for me to push against what is comfortable and start blogging. This blog will focus on topics I relevant to my professional interests which generally fall into three categories, new media, community economics and distance learning. I am exploring how Web 2.0 technologies and methodologies can be applied to each of these areas.