We’ve come a long, long way together

Since this is our last week of class and our last blog assignment, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on what I’ve learned and my experiences during the last seven weeks.

What I’ve learned

Before I started this class, I considered myself pretty tech hip. I had a Facebook page and I knew what blogs were, what Twitter was and regularly used Wikipedia. I thought I knew what social media was.

I realized that I didn’t really know, though. Why? Because I wasn’t actively engaging on any of the social networks. And that is precisely what social networking is about – communities that bring people together around a common goal and allow, or better yet encourage, them to engage with each other.

I learned that you can’t possibly know social media unless you are a part of it. Sure you can understand the technology and the concept, but you’d be missing the most important part, which is the culture and the conversation happening across these communities.

What I’ve experienced

Taking on this blog was not something I was particularly looking forward to. I didn’t think people would want to hear from me. And, truthfully, I’m not sure that I have exactly mastered the art of blogging or that I have a compelling topic. But I get it now and I like it. In the future, I’d like to join a blogging community or start my own blog (on a new topic yet to be determined.)

Twitter was another revelation. I did not get it and I was convinced that I would only use it for this class and never again. But I know now that I have to stay involved in it if I want to be current in my profession. What’s even better is that I like it and think it is a great source of real-time news, pop culture happenings and professional developments.

Finally, this class has opened me up to not only participating in the conversation, but to also being a contributor of original content. There is some audience out there – large or small – that is interested in what I have to say. Be it the recipes I think up trying to replicate a meal I’ve had at a local restaurant or the new uses I’ve identified for ordinary objects like shoe racks (a purse organizer), someone out there has a similar interest. And we want to talk to each other and compare notes.

What’s exciting to think about is the future of social media. I think we would all agree that it is still only in its infancy. Where will it go next? Where will it be in 20 years? Where ever it is, I’m sure my son will be able to explain it to me.