Why talking to people matters
In 2007 I found myself so far out of my comfort zone, in Cornwall, by myself, in a tin mine museum, with a lap top and wonky internet connection and a project plan entitled ‘e-learning’. I didn’t know where to start, and I didn’t know who to talk to, and at times I felt very isolated and out of my depth. I had no option other then to jump in head first, and it was brilliant, it was hard work, and very difficult at times, but some wonderful people helped me along the way, and I am very grateful for that. I had a head full of ideas, and I was very excited about the task and it was fantastic to talk to people who had been in the same situation as me, had similar ideas, and most importantly loved everything about museums and digital learning.
Fast forward a couple of years, I have a successful digital learning project under my belt, I’m now a researcher in Digital humanities, and loving every minute of it. I am also on the committee for the Digital Learning Network. And its fantastic. I really appreciated talking to people who know what I was going through and we want DLNet to be able to help with that, by helping you to find similar people, similar situations to what I was in to find and meet up with others to share experiences and ideas with other people working in digital learning.
A couple of months ago I wrote a post about reigniting my passion for digital learning! This was mostly down to an DLNet committee meeting .What made it brilliant? Being able to bounce ideas around and talking to other people who just get it. Who are just as passionate about digital learning and what it has to offer. Talking to people matters.
Ive been looking around the DLNet site and its brilliant to see that there’s a Cornwall DLNet group! especially as Rebecca my old manager at Geevor Tine Mine Museum is on there too! its great to see new groups forming, and people starting to talk to each other. Thats what this is all about, getting people together to discuss all things digital learning! I really hope everyone finds it useful.
Couldn’t agree more!
Claire, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. By the nature of the work we’re involved in and the types of institutions that exist all over the country it’s very easy to feel isolated and out of touch. There’s no real substitute for being able to bounce ideas off other people and have a good natter about what problems others have faced – and the solutions and good ideas they’ve come up with.
Hopefully the very technology we’re talking about applying can also provide a useful and usable framework for our own support and networking.
Richard
Hi Claire, great blog post! I felt the same when I started working on Internet projects way back in 1995 when I was at the Science Museum. I met up with a few people nearby and ended up forming the E-Learning Group for Museums, Libraries and Archives, which was the predecessor to the Digital Learning Network (which was created in January 2010).
The whole point was to meet up with people sharing some of the same issues (including not knowing what issues we had!) and then wanting to share experience and contacts with others.
I think sometimes people don’t realise what the the benefits will be of joining a group like this (whether DLNet or a local group), attending events etc until they have been involved for a while. So, if you are reading this and wondering whether to bother registering on the DLNet site… go on, it’s free and only takes a few seconds to do, and over the coming months it could help make a few connections that really help you develop.
Martin