The Brass Ring

Fascinating discussion by Krebs on networks. This seems very related to graphs – nodes and vertices — in computer science. Perhaps that greatly influenced his understandings.

My question for reflection relates to the use of network understanding with schools and web 2.0 tools. Schools are classically very hierarchical networks with weak links between teachers and even weak links between teachers and administrators. The structure is solid and simple but can be very isolating and often dysfunctional. Things really get confused if a few core links, like the loss of a key administrator, cause whole systems of communication to go missing.

What happens as web 2.0 enters schools is the development of some emergent networks of people with similar ideas or questions. They can develop around departments or clusters of teachers. Often however these links have no relation to the classic hierarchical structures. However this new collaboration is usually very life giving and exciting for teachers to participate in. I suspect that collaboration is an absolutely key process in the networking environment for the future.

How can we build on these ideas and allow new emergent networks to grow? This can easily be expanded to students. Without participating in the core of a network development, students will not discover their gift and passion. They will not find “The Brass Ring”.