Online since 2010, Pinterest has grown to over 40 million users making interest-based networks something to look for in the future.\u00a0 In many ways, they are making the world smaller and allowing people to share their views with others outside their friend or social networks.\u00a0 We are now connecting with others because we share a common interest and value communication with like-minded individuals.\u00a0 In many respects, interest based networks fit the \u201ccommunities of practice\u201d term coined by Wenger and Snyder (2000), in which they describe a community of practice as one in which a group of people share an area of interest and regularly support each other\u2019s learning in that area.<\/p>\n
For instance, as a member of Pinterest, I follow the activities of other foodies that share my taste in Szechuan food.\u00a0 As a follower, I am privy to their activities on the site, including what they pin, like, comment on, and even who they follow.\u00a0 Not only am I able to make interesting and valuable connections with strangers, but I am always motivated to return, mainly because the site is social, aesthetically pleasing and interactive.\u00a0 When someone repins one of my posts, I am emailed of their activity thereby giving me a boost of recognition and appreciation that draws me back to the site to continue sharing recipes, ideas and tips.<\/p>\n
Around the time that I signed up on to Pinterest, I was also developing interest-based bonds with certain MET peers that shared my passion for online professional development methods.\u00a0 Helen DeWaard and I shared many conversations about her related interest in online mentoring and ePortfolio methods of professional development (PD)\u00a0 in conjunction with my interest in Lesson Study methods. \u00a0In addition, I noticed that as I progressed through the program, I sought out more and more interest-sharing peers for discussion or group projects.\u00a0 So, it wasn\u2019t long before I was making a connection between the two experiences.\u00a0 What if I could combine the aesthetics, autonomy, dynamics and interactivity of Pinterest with online PD.\u00a0 This revelation cemented my future direction in educational technology and I haven\u2019t looked back\u2026.oh, except in reflection.<\/p>\n
The ground work for this revelation is tied to my ETEC 500 project, LESSON STUDY LITERATURE REVIEW AND PROPOSAL<\/a>, and subsequent reflection which explain my thinking as I shift directions towards a more informal PD site.<\/p>\n References:<\/p>\n Wenger, E., & Snyder, W. (2000). Communities of practice: the organizational frontier. Harvard Business Review. January-February, 139-145.<\/p>\n Online since 2010, Pinterest has grown to over 40 million users making interest-based networks something to look for in the future.\u00a0 In many ways, they are making the world smaller and allowing people to share their views with others outside…<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ubc.ca\/macseportfolio\/files\/2013\/02\/Online-Lesson-Study-Research-Proposal1-300x209.png\")
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