At today’s Open Book session at CACUSS 2008, you suggested we continue the conversation about books (really just big ideas) online – especially since we had spent much of the session talking about books related to information technology and social networking. So, I’ll kick things off but the success of the blog will be in your hands. Please contribute!
My most enthusiastic endorsement from the reading list was Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations. I think the phenomena described in the book have profound implications for institutions and professions, including ours. Shirky argues that web 2.0 technology has put the power of organizing into the hands of ordinary individuals – no longer do they/we need institutions (like colleges and universities) to provide the infrastructure, stability, resources to bring people together. They can find each other, and accomplish things, quite easily in environments like this one. We experienced that today when we spontaneously made the decision to create this blog, rather than make a formal request to the CACUSS board to create an organizationally-supported discussion board. Talk about a teachable moment!
I think one important point I didn’t make, but should have, is that Shirky is not a “technology for technology’s sake” cheerleeder – which is why I think I enjoyed this book so much. He continually reinforces that human beings are social creatures – that’s what this whole shift is all about: “…mere tools are not enough,” he says. “The tools are simply a way of channeling existing motivation.”
That said, I’ll keep this post short and ask you to comment with:
- Questions, insights about this book or any others we reviewed in the session
- Mini-reviews, recommendations for other books
In addition, I’d like to invite my fellow panelists – David, Heather and Tim – to post short versions of their reviews as well.
2 responses so far ↓
jenhammy // July 17, 2008 at 2:35 pm |
Hi folks
I am looking for strategies to incorporate reading into my busy life. I feel like I am behind and lazy! When I crawl into bed at night, I don’t feel like reading student affairs texts (a glass of wine and Gourmet Mag is the best I can do)…but I need some motivation…
What tips and tricks to people have for fitting reading of work-related literature into their lives? Or are people just such student affairs junkies that they can’t get enough of higher ed. materials?
Deanne Fisher // July 20, 2008 at 12:49 pm |
I admit that doing my MA part-time forced me to read higher ed literature and it has been a challenge to keep it up since I am now (finally!) finished. I think one thing that helps is to have the leadership of your department/division be supportive of integrating theory and reading into work time (within reason, of course.) I know that if I walked into the office of any of my colleagues here at U of T and found them reading “How college affects students” by Pascarella and Terenzini, I wouldn’t think twice.
That said, I also like to read this type of stuff on the subway or even while walking to work. Two reasons: one, I don’t like reading fiction on transit because people read over your shoulder (and I might be reading a sexy bit! Somehow seems like an invasion of privacy.) I figure no one’s going to be interested in The Journal of College Student Development. Secondly, I know I’ll stay awake. Reading in bed is a non-starter for me.
I realize that for those of you who do not have the luxury of walking or taking public transit to work, this is not a viable strategy!