While the process of collaboration described above is interesting and very creative, I don’t know if it’s for everyone.

I fail to see where this claim was made. In fact, it is pure folly and closer to a lie for anyone to claim there is “one best” way to do X via the net, or for that matter anything.

I’ve heard about this so-called revolution in collaboration ever since I started in this field, and to be honest, have really failed to see any single trechnology or product be truly revolutionary iin collaboration ** on its own **. To me, the true revolution has been the open, and informal collaboration that happens at all sizes and scales and obscure niches across web-space, that is not tied to any one thing, but is driven by the people.

I’m all for new tools and enablers, but for way way way way too long in this field we have put too much focus on the tools an not the craft.

What I described is available to anyone, anyplace, without any cost or having to provide contact information to learn more about it.

Again, it is high time to promote the practive, the art, the craft of collaboration, not the hammers and power tools.

But that’s just my opinion which is just that.

I’m happy to read you favor both the ordered and the unordered. Me too. What I’m still trying to figure out is now to negotiate this with individuals and groups so that the most useful option is applied in any given situation. Or emerges. Or something like that.

It is like the evolution of practices and software… bumping along with each other, sometimes dancing in synch. Other times… well, you know what kind of hell that is!

I favor both neatly stacked and horribly disheveled discussions, as long as the conversation is good (I spent fomrative internet years in the earyl 1990s on many listservs). There are times and places for both.

PS- I am diabetic, so please need some sugar free goodies

BTW, I guess I should confess, I also like neatly stacked discussion tools! Does that make me a freak? (No no no, don’t answer that! We know the answer.)

Now, MUST. FIND. CHOCOLATE!

Talents may only be cultivated via experience and tasting examples. Or just by trying. I would not suggest everyone needs to be adding to the mix, or recasting things written elsewhere– there are small ways to chip in merely by a comment, a question, or just the effort of seeking the crumb path.

What was descibed here as somewhat remarkable and strange may mutate more to a norm (?). It sure fits in the pocket of what experts know about brain science, engagement, and active learning.

Then again, maybe bread is bad for crumbs- how about chocolate?

I’d like to throw in a bit about this. There are people that are the catalysts to these micro communities. People like Nick, Bev, Beth, you — who take the time to reach out and lightly connect the dots.

So while the technologies are making some paths for us, or breadcrumb trails, it is the practice of pursuing them that creates the magic.

From an educational institutional perspective, that is not an attitude I run in to all the time. But when I do, it is always associated with a magical learning experience.

Are we cultivating the right talents?