Web 2.0 in the Public Sector

By Mark Evans, CPM, WSCPM, Guest Author
morpho6@tds.net

Web 2.0 is a term that has taken hold just since 2004. It refers to changes in the way we can use the Internet to share ideas, collaborate, and even build communities -- all in ways we are only beginning to understand. Indeed, as Michael Shoemaker mentioned in the spring newsletter in his article “Understanding the Digital Gap,”  we know “digital natives” are immersed in new technologies and are increasingly accustomed to digital collaboration in ways many public sector managers do not understand or appreciate. To effectively work with those who look to us for leadership, including many of our younger employees, as well as to effectively connect with those we serve, we must continue to model ourselves as diligent learners of these technologies and even embrace the chaos of these rapidly evolving tools.

Okay, but what are all these things and how do I get started? Well, in fact, I imagine many of you already have waded into this virtual pond and some of you are likely further into it than I am. For those of you with Web 2.0  experience who would like to share or just wish to monitor the conversation, I invite you to send your email address to morpho6@tds.net using the subject, “Web 2.0 discussion”. You don’t need to say much in the body of your message. Within a day or two, you will get an email back from “Wiggio” where you can create a login account, join a bunch of us in an online “forum,” and type in what you want. The Wiggio site even has an instructional video to help you get started. Since Wiggio.com is a free online collaboration tool, you will then be a Web 2.0 user. Cool!

There are other ways you can get started, too. Here is a short list of things to try:

• Set up a Skype account. You should first buy and install a “webcam.” Costs vary between $30 and $55 depending on the model. In the picture on the right, I’m pointing to a webcam sitting on my home computer. Next go to www.Skype.com and download the free application. Give yourself a login name. Go to the Skype directory shown on the screen to look up people. You can find me as mothmark6. Give me a call. If I’m busy, I may not answer, but if I can, we’ll talk. You can now do free video conferencing. Way cool!
  
  
• Set up a “delicious” account. Go to www.delicious.com and click on the green box at the top where it says, “Join Now.”  Using your enhanced CPM skills, follow the instructions to start you own personal delicious account. Visit mine at www.delicious.com/markevans where I have over 400 web sites you can check out. Scroll down the list of “tags” at the left of the screen. If you click on the tag for Web 2.0 you’ll get links for over 60 Web 2.0 related sites I think are interesting. (I probably missed some… so don’t think my list is all-inclusive.)  Whether you use my delicious site or make your own, you are now doing social bookmarking. Sweet!. (What else? Of course -- It’s delicious!)
  
  
• Set up a Facebook account. (No, you are not going to provide excessive personal info and post your bank account. Of course, if you are not sure what to do with your bank account information, send it to me and I’ll take care of it for you.)  Look me up. I’m cryptically listed as Mark H. Evans. I have a few CPM “friends” like Charlene Cutting as well as friends from Hong Kong, Oregon, Louisiana, and California. Am I desperately seeking “friends”? No, but I’ve reconnected with friends and professionals I haven’t seen in 30 years and I’m not a total alien to the conversation of local middle-schoolers. I’m, like, almost “Grok’ing” this!

Okay. Those are some fairly simple things to do. Do we have other things to talk about? Yes. As mentioned in this article, send me an email and/or call me on Skype. I need to close for now - I’ve got a library book to read.

© Copyright 2009, American Association of Certified Public Managers®