Eager Joiner
The Sites
Plurk, Twitter, Jott, Remember the Milk, Ning-15 of them, Curriki, Diigo, Delicious, Evernote, FlauntR, Flickr, Jing, Read the Words, Photobucket, Mnemograph, Only 2 Clicks, Bubbleshare, Pageflakes, Tumblr, Slide Share, Songza, Shelfari, Letterpop, Roxer, Route 21, Mixbook, Skitch, Evoca…. These are just some of the sites that I’ve joined during the past nine months. Out of these 27 sites I only use four of them on a daily basis-Plurk, Only 2 Clicks, Diigo and Elementary Tech Teacher Ning. My use of Diigo is mainly bookmarking sites and not using all their other features. And there’s five or six that I’ve never used. I’m positive I’m not alone in joining these sites and then not using them consistently or totally forgetting that I ever signed up in the first place!
The Problem
I did a Plurk Poll today and asked my fellow Plurkers: How many Nings do you belong to and how many do you stay actively involved with on a somewhat regular basis? People responded that they belonged to anywhere from 2-8 different nings. Only one person was active with half of them. Most were active in only a small fraction of the sites. I didn’t ask about other web2.0 sites but I’m just guessing the level of participation would be similar.
I’m trying to figure out why I jump on the bandwagon so quickly to join new sites and then don’t follow through. I find sites through recommendations on Plurk, Twitter or blogs in my reader. Often when I check the site out it looks good, it’s free and everyone is talking about it so I sign up! Here’s a few reasons why I think I lack the follow through:
It’s not a site that I need at the time so I sign up and then forget all about it.
A site such as a Ning looks good and it pertains to what I’m teaching so I sign up. Then as I do check back I realize there’s little or no activity so I quit going to the site.
Some Nings are very active and could be very useful but I just run out of time trying to check Plurk frequently, Twitter once a day, 4 email accounts and so on and so forth.
Some sites offer similar services such as photo sites or reminder services. Keeping track of one such site is enough for me!
Is There a Solution?
The next time a great new service is linked on Plurk what should I do? Well I think I should check it out carefully and ask myself some questions:
Do I really have a need for the site?
Do I already subscribe to a site that offers a similar service? Does this one look that much better that i need to try it out and possibly switch?
How do I think I’ll use the site at home or school?
How soon will I use it?
If I don’t think I really need it at the moment I can always just bookmark it or add it to my Only 2 Clicks page under Things to Check Out. Later when I want to check it out in more detail I can find it or I could just ask my PLN on Plurk. They’ll help me find that site and give me several other options to consider as well!
I’ll give this plan a try.
What About You?
Now I’m wondering, how do keep track of everything you join? I could use some help!
Filed under: Looking for Advice | Tagged: Diigo, Only 2 Clicks, participation, Plurk, web2.0
My absolute favorite ning is the Elementary Tech Teacher’s ning. I have signed up for three others. I keep up by using the forum’s RSS link and I just scan the topics as they come up in my reader. I really like the Classroom 2.0 ning and want to spend more time in the Global Educator and Projects by Jen nings.
I still am not truly comfortable with Plurk, but check it and Twitter a few times a day. I’ve really not participated much over the summer, but I know I’ll kick back in with the start of the school year. I made such great contacts for myself and my students there last year.
I continue to bookmark to del.icio.us through Diigo, but I do it more as a back up than anything else. I am most comfortable with del.icio.us – probably since it’s the one I started with.
Overall RSS is how I keep track of everything. Summize for Twitter and Plurk, co.comments and coComment for comments for places that I leave comments on blogs, nings, a Flickr group, and anything else that gives me one page access.
How do you use your reader?
I am exactly the same way. I sign up for everything, check things out and only regularly use a small fraction of these sites. One of the reasons I sign up immediately, is that I want to get the username lizbdavis. That is how I am known in the digital world, and if that site does become useful and/or important to know about, I want to have a name that my network will recognize. Also, when I’m not sure if I already have an account on the network, it helps that I only have one username to check. (Passwords are another story.)
-Liz
My blog entry could be titled “Really? I already have an account on this service?” lol
I too join way too many things and find I lose track of and don’t use most of them. The ones I use all the time: Elementary Tech Teachers Ning (thanks Nedra!), del.icio.us (not on Diigo – MUST resist), Only 2 Clicks, & Plurk. I have started using Don’t Forget The Milk and think I may get into that one.
Some of the sites I’ve joined lately I will use with my students but we’re not back yet and others I’ll forget I’ve joined until the next round of messages about them when I try to join again and am informed that I already have an account. HA!
And don’t talk to me about the other sites that I visit regularly that have nothing to do with education … many also requiring sign up and passwords.
Tell me, who really has a different password for every account they set up?
Ann, I’m glad you enjoy the Elementary Tech ning. It’s been great seeing it grow and watching the core group of people support each other. Plurk takes time to get used to. Actually, that’s one thing I didn’t sign up for right away! It looked confusing and I didn’t need another network. But at the time of NECC Twitter was having so many problems I finally broke down and joined. I am now addicted to the site! I use my reader for blogs that I have subscribed to, which is too many! I have a hard time keeping up with that as well.
Liz, getting your name is a good reason for signing up. I wish I had understood the importance of a name when I first started signing up for things. I’ve changed my name at least four times. Now I’m going with Nedra unless, believe it or not, it’s already taken. Your last comment leads right into Vicky’s last comment. How do you handle passwords? I have about three different ones and just tend to rotate them.
Vicky, your blog entry is perfect. I’ve had that happen many times. I used RTM a few times then switched to Jott which I used for reminders to myself. Now they are charging but I think I’ll be ok with the free version. I feel better knowing I’m not the only one doing this! You’re welcome for the comment about the ning.
I am not surprised that we all sign up and then discard the sites & tools that don’t meet our needs. One of the great benefits of web-based tools is there is no garbage, so there is no guilt! No packaging, no cd, no paper. Garage sales (and attics and basement and those U-store buildings and…) are full of those things we try but abandon.
So, the daily tools for me (largely discovered through people like you) ET Ning (yours is tops, Nedra), Diigo, Twitter (well, for the last 48 hours
and Bloglines for RSS. Jott and RTM are in the recycle bin: I just don’t organize that way. Or should that read: I just don’t organize…period.
My solution — I stay small. I have one NING — projectsbyjen.ning.com — and I check it daily. I didn’t know about the elementary one, but I am sure that the members of PBJ do know………and they can share information back and forth on each ning.
I only do twitter…….only do delicious…….subscribe to 15 blogs…….
A few months ago, I was drowning in tooooooo much. It was necessary to cut way back……..and I seem to be still getting the quality content even though I exited a lot of places.
Smiles, just my thoughts.
Jen
Jan, that is so true that there is no garbage associated with the web2.0 tools and they don’t even cause a huge increase in junk mail either.
Jen, I’m feeling the need to really cut back on the blogs I subscribe to. 15 sounds like such a manageable number! I’m not sure how many I have but it is way to much to keep up with even during the summer. I think I’ll make a goal to cut them in half this weekend and maybe weed out some more next month. Thanks for the inspiration!
i too have a personal home blog, that I list the sites that I am active and then go to that one blog and do my reading. I subscribe to blogs too so that i am updated on anything that is new. I think I am the only one who is not a “Twitter” but keep up with everyone on their blogs and don’t feel i have to continue with Twitter. The blogging is enough for me.