Publish, Filter, Collaborate!

Ok, so for this week we discussed Shirky chapters 4-7. By just looking at the titles, you can guess at what is being discussed in the chapters. The great thing about this book is the ease at which the information can be understood. However, one never knows who understands and who does not. So, we are going to do an experiment and put into action what Shirky describes. This will accomplish three goals:

1) Shirky exemplifies collective action and online collaboration as a tool of our current era. Thus, we should practice this as much as possible in this class.

2) You can help your fellow classmates understand topics that are not fully understand, Publish then Filter.

3) By posting and contributing to the online dialogue you can build your digital portfolio for the class.

This is a trial run. The format can change and be improved. Feel free to offer suggestions that will help you and your classmates learn more effectively and help us all communicate the ideas of Sociology more effectively.

The following is an outline of the class discussion today. I would like you to read through it and make additions to it. You then can fill in sections of the outline, ask or answer questions, and write ideas that come to you from class and/or readings.

Outline:

Review Conflict Theory

Assumptions

Implications

Examples:

Sports Dynasties: Yankees

The Commons

Shirky

Chapter 4: Publish then Filter

Social tools are only interesting once they get boring

What if our class knew what our class knows?

Chapter 5: Motivation and Collaborative Production

Unmanaged division of labor

Power law distribution

Chapter 6: Collective Action and Institutional Challenges

Ordinary online tools become useful for challenging institutions

2002 example of priest pedophiles

Chapter 7: Faster and Faster

Flash Mobs - ability to coordinate through online means

Groups can organize in a matter of hours, days and weeks

Organization is happening faster and faster

Key Terms

Conflict Theory

Unmanaged division of labor

Power law distribution

Collective action

Flash mobs

Example Questions

How has collective action changed with the implentation of online social tools?

What are the impacts of collective action on large institutions?

Why does publishing then filtering lend itself to collaborative production much more in online environments?

Mid-Term Review Session Information

We have our second review session:

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

in CSC 121B

from 7:10-9:00 pm

The entrance for lecture hall CSC 121 B is located in the connector building between CSC and Copeland Hall (directly across the street from Bentley Hall and Bentley Annex).

Also, please feel free to post topics or questions that you would like to be covered during the review session in the comments section of this blog post. This will help us structure the review session in a way that addresses any questions you may have.

Notes for January 28, 2010

In class today we talked about the principal-agent model aka "the principal-agent problem" where a principal owns the resources but needs something done. The principal must then trust the expertise of the agent to get the job done. However, granting authority to the agent to do the work for the principal puts him at risk.

This model mirrors the relationship between citizens of United States and the government. The people of the United States are shareholders in this "organization" where they ultimately put their trust in the government. Subsequently, by putting our trust in the expertise of the government we, as a nation, put ourselves at risk. To combat these risks, the government creates institutions designed to prevent any significant threats.

POLL!

Here are the videos you can vote on this week. We had a lot of really good suggestions this time! Please vote for the video you would like to see in the poll in the right task bar. The poll will be open until Thursday at midnight.

Video 1



Video 2



Video 3



Video 4



Video 5

Notes for Tuesday January 26, 2010

Today we discussed the idea of the state. There are three characteristics that are necessary in the formation of the state.
1. Organization of political processes within a society.
2. Provide direction and regulation of social life.
3. Monopoly over the use of coercion and force.
This monopoly on force is the most important aspect of the state.

Notes for January 25, 2009

Today in class we discussed conflict theory. At the core of this is the idea of the 3 basic assumptions presented in class.

1. Society consists of groups
2. The groups have competing interests.
3. These groups have different types and amounts of resources

When groups both desire some resource, the group can use the resources they currently possess to aid in acquiring more resources. Subsequently, the more resources available to the group when pursuing some interest increases the likelihood of acquiring more resources.

Clip of the Day Suggestions!

You know the drill at this point.

Please provide links to possibilities for the Clips of the Day for this week. As soon as we have enough suggestions, I will create another post with 5 possibilities, and a new poll.

If you have suggested a video before (either after the 5 video choices were selected or the video simply wasn't selected that time), feel free to post it again.