I'm sat here in a computer suite at the University of Plymouth with a bunch of my colleagues, all trying to get our heads around the new MicroSoft SharePoint software which will be unleashed upon our unsuspecting students in the Autumn term. Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war! Sighs, head scratching, bemused faces, more sighing, an 'arghh' and an occasional 'hooray', as something actually works for someone. We are investing a lot of time and effort into this, and the facilitators are sweating cobs, so I sincerely hope it gets used.
The bottom line is this - people will use a new technology or piece of software providing they see a clear benefit for it. We need to consider the affordances and constraints. We need to ask ourselves the question - what can I do with this *widget* that I couldn't do before? If the answer is 'nothing', then ditch the *widget* and get on with yer life. On the other hand, if there are new things you can do with the *widget*, then learn all you can about it, and use it to enhance learning. It's not just a case of 'build it and they will come', but more about 'how can I build it to make it welcoming?'
Is SharePoint another weapon of mass distraction? Or is it going to turn out to be a boon? Here's the secret.....Make a technology transparent and students will concentrate more on learning new things than they will on the technology.
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