greetings from the Web2forDev conference in Rome.
IICD colleagues and I are here, and its difficult to find some time to blog in between the various sessions.. The pre-conference training day yesterday went down well. It was a collaboration between itrainonline partner organisations (APC and IICD) for the conference, and Karel and I did most of the pulling together of the resource people and ideas over the last frantic weeks. There are two posts on the Web2forDev blog about yesterday which you may be interested in checking out: http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/09/25/vox-pops-from-web2fordev-on-day-zero/ and http://blog.web2fordev.net/2007/09/25/first-feedback-from-the-pre-conference-web20tasterday/
For some visual impressions of the Web2.0 Taster Training Day, have a look at the Flickr pics, and search using the tag 'Web2forDev'
But essentially most talks and dicussions going on here at the conference adress the issue of building capacity in the use and appropriation of Participatory Web tools. Many speakers have mentioned it, and many opinions differ on what is the right approach. Is there any point in skills training Web2 tools? Should people learn by playing around and having fun? (What is the role of Facebook in getting people into Web2 mode and mood..?) Does access come before capacity support for using the tools? Or should people be made aware of the tools through seminars for example before they even have access (stimulate demand)? If you do decide to train on web2 tools, what are appropriate forms and methods to employ? Do you demo step by step or do you let people explore and experiment and you act as a support and guide? These and many more questions regarding capacity building are coming up, and I am triggered to go and ask more speakers and participants with experiences about their views. I'd like to do short video interviews, but hey, where's our itrainers community vodcast space on www.blip.tv or www.youtube.com? ;)
For a webcast of today's presentations and speakers, go to http://www.fao.org/webcast/
There is a lowbandwidth version, so i hope its viewable for all of you that want to watch it. And hey - if anyone has questions on Web2forDev, especially regarding Capacity Building around Web2.0 tools, that you want me to ask people around here, do let mes know!
That's it for now, Ciao de Roma, saskia