Sunday, 6 December, 2009

Bookmarks for December 2nd through December 6th

Awesomeness off of the internet for December 2nd to December 6th:

Technology is not the thing

Last week I spoke at the Online Information conference. It was a session about Twitter, where Karen Blakeman did a great job explaining the whole thing, and how organisations can make use of it. Then I stepped up and told a few jokes about government is – and should be – using Twitter.

Here’s the slides, for what they’re worth. Try and imagine a pillock gurning at you while you read them, it’ll provide some context.

Now, there is a thing here, and this is what it is: I don’t like doing tool-focused talks. One reason is that people get the impression that I am saying that everyone should be on Twitter, say.

To be swearily honest, I really couldn’t give a shit whether you use Twitter or not. I might write things that make it easier for you, but I would hate to feel like I’m making promises that it will change your life, or transform your organisation. It probably won’t. Things don’t tend to work that way.

I’m not trying to distance myself from Twitter, here. I still use it a hell of a lot, and my life would be poorer without it. The point I am making is true of any single technology, and goes back to the idea that, actually, the interesting things about the internet and its effect on society – and government – has nothing to do with computers.

Instead of encouraging people and organisations to use Twitter, or whatever, I want to encourage them to listen, to collaborate, to be transparent and open, to take notice of the things their employees say, to be flexible and agile and able to react quickly to changing circumstances.

Technology makes this easier. It provides a platform where it can all happen. In some cases it might be the key that unlocks the door to all this activity. But technology is not the thing.

Wednesday, 2 December, 2009

Bookmarks for November 29th through December 2nd

Awesomeness off of the internet for November 29th to December 2nd:

Tuesday, 1 December, 2009

A quick start guide to Twitter

Twitter Guide You will all be delighted to know that I have written a handy quick-start guide to Twitter for people who work in and around government!

I have had loads of requests for this, from people who can see that Twitter is taking off in a big way, but who also just can’t quite make their way around the service enough to make the most of it.

The guide takes absolute beginners to Twitter right from the start – explaining what Twitter is, and how to sign up – right through to replying, retweeting, hashtagging and using tools to measure success.

It’s free to download, just click the cover graphic or the text link below!

Download Learning Pool’s Twitter Guide

I’d love to know what you make of it, and if you have any suggestions for an updated version. Maybe you have an idea for another subject crying out for the Briggs treatment. Drop me your comments using dave@learningpool.com or send them via Twitter to @davebriggs.

And don’t forget, you can follow Learning Pool on Twitter too – @learningpool.

Sunday, 29 November, 2009

Bookmarks for November 27th through November 29th

Awesomeness off of the internet for November 27th to November 29th:

Friday, 27 November, 2009

Bookmarks for November 24th through November 27th

Awesomeness off of the internet for November 24th to November 27th:

  • The dark side of the internet – "Fourteen years ago, a pasty Irish teenager with a flair for inventions arrived at Edinburgh University to study artificial intelligence and computer science. For his thesis project, Ian Clarke created "a Distributed, Decentralised Information Storage and Retrieval System", or, as a less precise person might put it, a revolutionary new way for people to use the internet without detection. By downloading Clarke's software, which he intended to distribute for free, anyone could chat online, or read or set up a website, or share files, with almost complete anonymity."
  • BBC News – Government e-petitions give power to the people – "Government plans to roll out e-petitions across the UK could offer people a real say in the democratic process, a conference has heard."
  • Culture in the New Order | Centre for Policy Development – "One of the key hurdles for the public sector and legislators in heralding in the changes that will make the promise of Government 2.0 successful will be culture change."
  • eGov AU: Could the government replace some advertising and communications contracts with crowdsourcing? – "However what I will ask is this – should the Australian government look beyond advertising and communications agencies for good communications ideas? Should we go directly to the communities impacted by our programs, invite them to provide ideas for communications campaigns and reward them appropriately?"
  • Quiet Riots – "Quiet Riots is a prototype service that allows individuals to join together in groups to make change happen for the issues they share. Users find their Quiet Riot, share their experience, and work together to get something done."
  • State of the eUnion: Government 2.0 and Onwards – "The book State of the eUnion: Government 2.0 and Onwards is by John Gøtze and Christian Bering Pedersen, and foreworded by Don Tapscott, the book is a cornucopia of ideas and experiences from thought-leaders on three continents."

Tuesday, 24 November, 2009

Help my village!

Thanks to everone who helped out with this vote, hopefully we will have the results soon and that it will be positive news!

My village’s community centre has the chance tonight to win a £50,000 grant from the People’s Millions. There is going to be a piece on the local news on ITV tonight during the 6pm broadcast, and telephone votes will determined which project wins the money.

Cottenham Community Centre needs the money to help convert the old Methodist Chapel in the village into a thriving community hub, including a coffee shop and other resources to help bring the people of the village together.

If you get the chance, please call 0871 6268804 before midnight tonight to register your vote. More details are below:

CottenhamCommunityCentre

Bookmarks for November 20th through November 24th

Awesomeness off of the internet for November 20th to November 24th: