Cancel or continue?

Published by in digitaldiscipline, isafety, socialnetworking on November 1st, 2007

I am in a quandary and wonder what you think I should do. I’ve volunteered to co-teach a 2 part workshop with my wife for adults (mainly targeted at parents) at a local Oklahoma City Church later this month. The title of our workshop is “Internet Safety for Families: The Benefits and Dangers of Social Networking.” As you likely know if you’re a regular reader of my blog or listener to my podcast channel, I’m very passionate about our need for ongoing discussions about not only safe Internet use but also the constructive potential of the Internet to help people make positive connections with others, with ideas, share their voice safely on the global stage, etc. My desire to advance an agenda of dialog around these issues was the reason I started the Digital Dialog Ning several months ago.

My Ten Years in a Quandry

My quandary is that only four people (by last count) have registered for this workshop. Do you think we should cancel or go ahead and teach this? Our frustration is that this information and these topics are VERY important for families, yet not many people are willing to sign up for a workshop like this. This is a function of how over-programmed and overly busy many of us are in our lives as well as other factors I’m sure. Perhaps we titled and described this workshop poorly as well? I don’t know. We tried to offer this last spring at the same church (it’s not our church but I know the person who coordinates this adult education series, and she’s asked me to teach) but we only had two people register, so we did cancel. We taught this as a six week series at our own church last spring and had 5 or 6 parents attend. This should be a topic of high interest, but for reasons that are unclear it’s not something many people want to commit to learn about, at least in the contexts where we’ve tried to share this.

We will be able to have WiFi Internet access during the workshops this year, and having small numbers could be postive since I can scrounge up several laptops that participants could actually use to be “hands-on” during the workshops. I’m just wondering if we should cancel or proceed.

This could be a “long tail” moment, where there certainly is a lot of interest in this topic across the Internet population and edublogosphere specifically, but perhaps not at this particular church or in this particular community. The frustration is, of course, that these topics SHOULD be of high interest to all parents since their kids (especially teens, but younger kids too) are likely frequent consumers of media and users of the Internet. I’d like to proceed with the class, but at this point we’re not sure.

I’m wondering if it would be possible / desirable to invite people online to join our class discussions asynchronously as well as synchronously, using a tool like Ustream.TV? I definitely want to be a catalyst for continuing conversations about digital dialog, digital discipline, Internet safety, safe digital social networking, etc… and one of the reasons I agreed to co-teach this class was so my wife and I would be sure to work together this fall on supporting local education efforts on these topics.

What do you think? I’ve cross-posted this on the Digital Dialog Ning, if you want to reply feel free to comment here or there. :-)

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On this day..

19 Comments »
  • http://www.mctoonish.com/blog Heather Ross

    Wes, I think that you should give the workshop even with just four people. It is an important topic that needs discussion. Perhaps these four will each tell four others and your workshop will grow in the future.

    Bringing in online voices is also an excellent idea, but who will you open it up to to make sure that the conversation stays constructive and open to differing opinions?

  • http://blog.genyes.com sylvia martinez

    I’d agree with Heather. You should do it. The only way to find out what’s needed is to ask the people who show up what they want and give it to them. If it’s on target, there will be more next time.

    Not sure about the online idea, I think the group who would self-select to join might confuse/drown out the needs of your local parents.

    The title seems a little overwhelming, and at the same time, really narrow. Do you really need the second half? Most parents I talk to don’t get all the distinctions and might not even know what “social networking” is. It might be online dating for all most people know!

    I think most people are just worried about how to raise a good kid with all the distractions out there that didn’t exist when they were growing up.

  • http://ictucan.blogspot.com Jane Nicholls

    I heard a well known keynote speaker once say, it doesn’t matter how many people are in your workshop: present as if you are talking to only one person, and as if you are presenting to an auditorium. Each person is important and each person deserves your best presentation. Four families, represent four sets of children, think of the difference for those students. Four families also represent their friends and colleagues as they share their learning – the ripple effect. I like to think I am changing the world one child at a time, an audience is never too small.

  • http://bookminder.blogspot.com Lesley

    I have had a similar experience of offering a workshop and having a poor response. Also the experience of hearing people during the workshop say, “If we’d known what this was really about, we’d have brought others along.” or “This is a message everyone needs to hear.” What I have started to do is prepare a checklist to send out to potential participants. For instance in your case you could do something like: Check here off the ones you can answer yes to…
    _ I know when my child visits inappropriate sites (at home and in other locations
    _ I use appropriate Internet virus protection
    _ I have discussed Internet safety issues with my child(ren)
    etc…

  • http://www.stager.org Gary Stager

    What evidence do you have that this is “an important topic?” Why don’t you trust the marketplace?

    Perhaps folks aren’t as alarmed by the Internet as the fear industry suggests.

    Perhaps there is nothing new here as compared to good parenting in other times.

    Perhaps people have other priorities.

    Perhaps the Internet just isn’t that interesting.

    Perhaps you are confusing people by offering a series of workshops about tech literacy and marketing it as a weapon against danger.

    Perhaps the message is condescending.

    On the odd occasion that I’ve been invited to speak on the topic of net safety, it has been to balance the hysterical claims of “experts” claiming that children were in immediate peril. I once shared a stage with a consultant who wanted to siphon $300,000 from a terrified school and an FBI agent who kept running graphic pornography in front of the audience (a very effective speaker technique). Surprisingly, the parents kept requesting to see more porn.

    My message in that context is to to discuss what parents, children and educators will lose by overreacting and losing their common sense.

    * Use a filter or don’t use a filter.
    * Talk to your kids.
    * Supervise your children to the best of your ability.

    What else is there?

  • http://www.g4classes.com/learnforward Kent Chesnut

    Wes,
    A couple of questions…
    * Is the course open for teens?
    * Is there child care provided? (always an issue for participation at our Church)

    A suggestion (if not done already)…
    * Make a half page brochure and add to Sunday bulletin explaining the class and defining the terminology – like social networking.

    And a request…
    * If you do go ahead with the class, please make an audio or video recording so us anynchronous types can enjoy and learn from it.

  • ahf

    Some good comments. Now for mine: This is likely the very busiest time of the year for families — & others, too. I suggest you hold one informational session now, and then hold the entire series in Feb or Mar. If you set a minimum number of participants & make that clearly understood at the informational meeting, something like “each one bring two, or three, or …” might work. Also, it could be advertised by the hosting church to other local churches. Speaking from my parent ed experience, I know that people get more out of a class if there are 8-12 in attendance. Fewer or more participants isn’t usually as meaningful to either the participants or leaders.

  • http://www.wesfryer.com Wesley Fryer

    This is very helpful feedback. I agree with your point, Jane, that we change the world one conversation at a time. And we are changed one conversation at a time. No audience is too small, that is true. The ripple effects of those four families having more ideas and more information is potentially very positive. I also appreciate your points, Sylvia, that the title may be too much, “Internet Safety” is probably enough. Also I think you’re right, the challenges of raising kids amidst many distractions, some involving media and many not, are big and worth addressing.

    Gary, I side with you in not wanting people to overreact and throw away their computers after hearing a talk on Internet safety and the dangers there. I am trying to advocate a balanced and informed approach. I do think there is value in providing opportunities for parents (and others, even school administrators) to get together and talk about changes in the information landscape, how it is affecting them in their specific context, and what other options we may have depending on our individual and family priorities. I do like your “cut to the chase” summary. I think there IS more, however. I am encouraging adults to go online with their kids, and if they have an account on myspace or facebook create one there too. I’m encouraging them to visit the pages of their children’s’ friends, and talk about what is posted there. Those ideas do fall under the umbrella “talk to your kids” but I think those specifics can be very helpful for parents.

    I also think it’s important to address the bullying issues.

    Sylvia, your suggestion of finding out what people want and then trying to give it to them, in terms of discussion and content, is a very sound one. I’m thinking we’ll start the first session with a KWL activity for that very reason.

    AHF, you’re right about this season being busy. I did have some discretion in scheduling these sessions– I was busier earlier in the fall, and I didn’t want this to go into December… Feb or Mar could work better. The schedule is set now, however, and it’s for 2 sessions. I’m thinking now about NOT adding other “live” elements and just reflecting on the experience myself here and on the Digital Dialog Ning. I just received a phone call today from our state library association to possibly do a session on this topic as a full day workshop for their state conference in May. That person had listened to one of my previous podcasts on Internet safety and thought the message would be good for librarians. So more doors for this dialog are opening….

    Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful feedback and suggestions.

  • Jennifer Wagner

    I am interested in hearing more as you decide. I really want to ustream.tv you and your wife into a seminar at my Church/School for parents………and I think God just might be opening the door for you to do so.

    Jennifer

  • http://www.wesfryer.com Wesley Fryer

    Kevin: Your comment was in moderation so I didn’t see it before I posted my last response… No, this is a seminar for parents, but the idea of a seminar for teens is a GREAT one. In fact, there could be much more traction from a teen-focused seminar that included a subsequent followup with parents, than from going directly to parents first. I REALLY like that idea. Also, good suggestion on the half-page brochure. We are probably too late to do one for this class (since it’s next week for session 1) but we could do that next time…. Also, I will certainly try to record myself, but I wouldn’t want recording of discussions to inhibit folks who are there… I’ve run into this at some “unconference” sessions recently… I really wanted to record, but I think having the recorder on in some cases could chill the discussion and conversations… I think that really is context dependent on whether it’s a good idea or not. But I’ll certainly try to record my own “sharing” pieces. Jenn, we’ll see on the ustream deal… I do want to experiment with it as well. This may not be the time, but I suspect I’ll be able to “find a time” (or the time will present itself) before long! :-)

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  • http://www.cheryloakes.com Cheryl Oakes

    Do this even for one person! I am speaking to parents Tue. night before Women of WEB.Busy night, but all worth it.
    Cheryl

  • http://aboatman.blogspot.com Andy B

    Hi Wesley,
    Six weeks is a long time. I think people will sign up for a two day intensive. Commitment for six weeks is too long. I am having the same problem in getting folks to take a glassblowing class for five weeks.
    Social Networking is a term to most people who are not in the computer field will not know. “My Space” in the title would get a little more attention.

  • http://www.g4classes.com/learnforward Kent Chesnut

    Wes,
    I’ve been thinking a little more about this subject (that’s always dangerous!).
    Going back to the basics, I suspect your objectives for the seminar would be something like:
    * Provide information on internet safety
    * Provide tools and strategies for safe internet usage
    * …

    If it’s not already an objective, I’d add one more:
    * to encourage conversations between parents and children about internet safety, …

    This kind of conversation
    * requires a common vocabulary (other posters have noted that many adults may not know what social networking means).
    * requires the ability to see and understand the other party’s perspective. (Does my child know what I fear? Do I know what my child gains from using the internet?)
    * would allow a negotiation of what safety on the internet means.

    I’m not sure a separate presentation to the kids and parents would be the optimal way to pursue this objective. I’d advise making the class for parents and kids together. I could see quite a bit of audience participation as the kids and adults try to provide definitions for the various terms.

    Might be worth considering.

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  • http://www.downes.ca Stephen Downes

    Cancel.

  • http://www.wesfryer.com Wesley Fryer

    And the reason to cancel would be….?

  • http://mizmercer.edublogs.org A. Mercer

    In the future, have you thought of doing it at a central location, but publicizing it for a number of local congregations? You might get better attendance. I find people are less denomination bound especially about a topic like that.

  • http://www.wesfryer.com Wesley Fryer

    That is a good idea Alice, and I actually asked the person coordinating this last week if there were ecumenical organizations we might pitch this to in our area instead. I’m going to pursue that option.

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