Web 2.0 and neighbourhood learning
The project explores the possibilities of web 2.0 and social media as tools for learning in the informal setting of a neighbourhood. 'Learning' was defined in three different ways:
- operational in learning to handle digital media tools,
- tactical in learning to create news from a journalistic viewpoint
- strategic in 1) actively involving others in the process, stimulating social networks and 2) getting neighbourhood citizens to reflect on issues.
Local media team
To realize the ambition a group of neighbourhood inhabitants was invited to act as a media team and try to create activities that would create learning in the larger context of a neighbourhood.
In the neighbourhood 6 volunteers that were regular visitors of a local digital project are invited to participate in a core media group. Over the course of a few months they acquire journalistic skills, media production skills and learn how to creating a neighbourhood presence. In weekly sessions they brainstorm possible issues, formulate practical assignments, organize tasks and create media.
The project
The local media team is supported by a professional journalist teaching them the finer points of selecting, creating and presenting news supports their process. To instruct them on making videos and interviews they invite a cameraman and visited a professional video-editing studio.
The tools
As tools for production the media group uses Flipcam video recorders, a professional video camera for training, small digital cameras and personal mobile phones and a simple web-editing tool. The members created a division of work: some do video, while other take pictures of write.
Learning 1: using tools
The media team learned basic media skills: cerating websites, making videos, interviewing, using Youtube and Twitter. Using these they create different media on different platforms for different audiences.
Learning 2: creating news
Supported by a journalist they learned how to find, develop, and present 'news' of interest for a local audience. They used that knowledge to create their media.
Learning 3: social activitation and reflection
Using their skills themselves they becamo known as a media group, and were asked by others to create their news. In the resulting media projects they teach others to produce their own media, so that in their turn they become local producers. This happened for a local school, a care organization and a volunteer organization. In that way they now trained more than 30 people.The ambition of creating reflection in the neighbourhood by the quality of the news will be taken up after the summer, when the project continues.
The result: media of different platforms
The media team produces material for an outside TV screen, an online web site, a small paper based newspaper and Youtube. A Powerpoint presentation drives the outside TV screen, to create their online newspaper they use a simple web-editing tool, in the paper version of the newsletter their material is photocopied, and their media are stored on their own Youtube channel and twitter. Each of these will continue to host material in the future.
Some of their interviews are found on 'straatpraatje' (streettalk,) and a small mediaproject with the local school on is shown in pictures. For a small conference they created a couple of video's with people explaining their use of the web in a local context.
Links to the material:
Streettalk: http://www.bargeres.org/straatpraatje
school media project: http://www.bargeres.org/beeldkrantbargeres/fotoalbum
video's: http://www.youtube.com/user/haikeyy
Conclusions
Although all the individual members of the media team learned basic digital skills, they were most inspired by the journalistic skills. These higher-level skills created a sense of the possible meaning and importance of their activities for the neighbourhood.
During their reporting activities they reached out to local people and organizations. In the short period of the experiment they became a recognized factor in the neighbourhood and as such others now approach them when something will be happening. The fact that in Holland more than 90% of the population have access to the internet might aid in this result.
Apart from training for basic operational skills to facilitate the creation of news and learning separate professional support is necessary.
Although the experimental period ended after half a year, the media group is very motivated and will continue its activities. They recognize that, by appropriate selection of material, they may create a new sense of identity, belonging and participation in the neighbourhood. They hope to be able to create that new quality in the year to come.
