A proposal for research and mapping of demonstrators
November 27, 2008 by Gail Bradbrook
I propose we use the research and mapping to find out both what people are doing and what they could be doing in addition… so the research and mapping questions will help to shape the final selection criteria.
I’m posting this here because people may not find the research and mapping work package very sexy…. yet it could play a key role in defining criteria and therefore its important we get it right!
I find the research and mapping activity both key to knowing what is already happening … and actually quite sexy (well, OK I certainally enjoy collating this kind of stuff!)
Through NAVCA we have been mapping general ICT support and services available for 3rd sector (community and vol sector orgs) through the network of ‘ICT Champions’ for some time. This hasn’t necesserily included a great amount of Social Media mapping or identification of Digital Mentors, but through this network and by asking local CVS / Voluntary Action organisation we can find out what they know.
We will be able to provide this function either alone or in partnership with other bidders depending on who is appointed.
We are embarking on a piece of Research funded by the Lottery in partnership with our local University to look at how and why people use differing types of ICT. This includes community media and social media as it builds on the work we carried out during our UK Online Social Impact Demonstrators project. We have a couple of websites that may provoke early interest, im not sure if this is the right strand to put them in, but the first is the main site, http://www.ecol.org.uk/ and hosts learning material and various activities, guides and links. The other is the beginnings of an online village social network, covering all things from uploaded videos, voice and pictures to discussions and local events. Early days but it can only grow!! http://digitalvillagenet.ning.com/ . Both sites will be a repository for research and mapping of what is happening out there locally in the months ahead.
weve been supoporting mentor type projects as community hubs for accessible technologies for the past few years
You might like to have alook at our remote assessmnet projects in scotland, London and Wales and the Switched on Communities project operating throughout the UK