Mike Lawrence of Computer-Using Educators here, live blogging the session led by David Barnard of SANGONeT, Partha Pratim Sarker of Bytes for All, and Kate Raynes-Goldie of TakingITGlobal (immoderator). These are merely my notes - I will return to provide insight and reflection.

These are just my quick notes - I'll come back to add reflections later... 

Beth's story on the use of tags to improve the efficiency of using nptech tags (and others) - I could see that many non-profits (and schools) are using outdated and inefficienty tools to accomplish their goals.

Chris Heuer believes that tagging is the most important aspect of web2.0. All events should have their own unique tag. He discussed folksonomies, his launch of brainjams as a response to web2.1 and tagspaces as a response to an identified need to search tags by subsets of users. He introduced Paramedia - networks of people with access to media publishing tools and training.

This is Mike Lawrence, of Computer Using Educators, live blogging from netsquared. This session is being led by Erik Collier of Ask.com, Chris Heuer of BrainJams, Beth Kanter of beth.typepad.com, and Marshall Kirkpatrick of netsquared (immoderator).

The topic of this session is tagging and aggregators and their use in the non-profit world.

Interesting tidbit -  5%-10% of adults read RSS feeds. 

Passion, purpose and need - don't start a wiki without these qualities. Adam points out that a wiki + work does not automatically = productivity. He also empasized that it needs to be simple. So simple tht it won't be a barrier to its own use. It can, but it must be something for which a wiki is well suited. Everything that they might use a whiteboard for would be a good use of a wiki. 

I can't tell you how many potentially great technology tools have been abandoned because they were started by those who are excited by the technology, but do not have a stustainable topic to keep the inertia going.  This relates to the conecpt that educators MUST make sure that teaching and learning are first in any implementation of the technology tool in the classroom.

Heddy described how their wiki became an "accidental resource" - they launched an organic tool for internal as well as external uses, and it has exploded as interested parties from around the globe have joined in, taken part and developed resources for their mission.

In doing so, they have become among the largest such resources on the web. I think it's an extraordinary example of technology having unanticipated outcomes. The challenge is getting this type of solution beyond the restrictive, yet justifiable barriers placed by educational institutions to protect students. There are many ways we can support educational use of wikis to have a similar usability and immediacy. Adam just described what I was writing as "the challenges are 'social, not technical.'" Spot on!

This is Mike, of Computer-Using Educators, live blogging the 1:45-2:40 netsquared session led by Adam Frey (Wikispaces), Heddy Nam (Never Again International) and Liz Gannes (Red Herring).

Given the focus on non-profits, it makes sense that netsquared would include education into within the topics covered by the event, but I had hopes that it could be fully realized theme. Perhaps next year at "netcubed"...although it is refreshing that the themes focus on impact in the general sense - but maybe this is for the best. Education (and by extension, educators) tend to want to separate ourselves from other industries and "real world" applications, when we really should be thinking about how to integrate, which is precisely what netsquared has done.

Speaking of disruption - here's a powerful statement-

 First we invent our technologies, then we use our technologies to reinvent ourselves.

-Paul Saffo 

It has the ring of sci-fi to it, but is absolutely true for society. I would add that in most every case, these technologies change us in ways that we never expect or plan for.

One more powerful message: 

If newspapers are the first draft of history, then blogs are the scratch pads of history.... 

Interesting point about the use of social networking tools for abuse/misuse of influence. 

After founding computmentor to move nonprofits from the habit of storing important membership  data on index cards towards database use, Daniel Ben-Horin noted that he's proud to be bringing back the index cards for netsquared. Anytime attendees find something interesting to capture, share or discuss - he encourages us to use the cards.

It reminds me to remember the rules of nettiquett - "remember the human" - in our attempts to use technology to better our lives, we must remember that some of the best solutions were those old analog tools we learned about in our first networking experiences.

My day job is as Executive Director of Computer-Using Educators (cue.org). We provide educational technology resourcess for thousands of educators throughout California, host a rockin' annual conference in Palm Springs, and publish a quarterly journal, blogs, podcasts and e-newsletters for our members.